Called out four times yesterday

The Coast Guard helicopter was called out, with the highest priority, from Akureyri in the tenth hour last night due to a motorcycle accident at Þríhyrningááá in the highlands. The helicopter was called out four times yesterday.

The helicopter was on the scene and freed by eleven o’clock and transported the injured person to the hospital in Akureyri,” says Ásgeir Erlendsson, information officer of the Icelandic Coast Guard.

Coast Guard helicopters are made out of both Akureyri and Reykjavík this weekend, and first responders involved in the accident believe that there was an hour’s spare on-call time, Ásgeir reports, as the helicopter was in Akureyri when the call came in.

The helicopter was standing near the scene of the crash

When asked, Ásgeir usually receives one or two calls on weekends during the summertime. He certainly says more calls during the weekend, especially during the summertime. There were an unusually high number of calls yesterday or four.

The first helicopter call in Akureyri was received due to an illness in Hornstrandir by the Icelandic coast. Thereafter, a call was received for a man who was injured in a steep crash on Tröllaskagi peninsula.

In addition, the helicopter’s assistance was requested in connection with a motor accident at Langjökull shortly before noon yesterday. The helicopter, which is based out of Reykjavík this weekend, was located close to the crash site, so the crew was able to respond to the call quickly.

The Guard’s helicopters were therefore simultaneously on call just after noon yesterday.