Flood victim delivers baby mid air in SLAF rescue chopper

By Shezna Shums

A baby girl was born on Independence Day aboard the Air Force Bell 212 Helicopter to a woman rescued from floods in the Horowpathana area.

The Sri Lanka Air Force rescued a group of persons including this woman who was advanced in her pregnancy from the Horowpathana area yesterday.

“During the rescue mission she had delivered the child,” said Sri Lanka Air Force, Spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara.

Nanayakkara said that the helicopter had then landed at the Horowpathana Hospital premises from where a doctor had completed the delivery.

After this the mother and baby were put aboard an Air Force MI 17 and transported to the Anuradhapura Base Hospital.

“Now the mother and baby are fine,” said Nanayakkara.

The Sri Lanka Air Force is currently using four Helicopters for their rescue missions in the flood affected districts.

Over 20 rescue mission had already taken place by yesterday afternoon. 

However Nanayakkara stated that the rescue missions were still ongoing.

As of yesterday 17,000 tonnes of dry rations were air dropped by the Sri Lanka Air Force to the affected people in Welikanda and other worst flood affected divisions.

A total of 6,500 lunch packets were also distributed to the people in the Medirigiriya and surrounding areas by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Around 20 persons were rescued by the Sri Lanka Air Force on Independence Day.