Press Release

Issued by Babcock Mission Critical Services Espana.

May 12, 2014

The swift transfer of a renal patient on Thursday allowed a woman to receive a new kidney. INAER's medical helicopter, contracted by Ingesa for aerial emergency transfers, once again demonstrated its effectiveness, when a lack of ferry links to Algeciras between 12.05pm and 2.30pm left the patient with little time to receive the transplant..

After receiving the happy news at 11.45am that a kidney was available, there were concerns that the patient would not be able to arrive in time. “Twenty minutes after the call we were at the port, but there was no boat”, explained the patient's family. If the transplant window expires, the kidney is allocated to another patient.

The family went to the University Hospital in search of another transport option. Fortunately, a doctor arranged the patient's transfer to the helipad via ambulance. At 1.45pm, the INAER crew got the call and headed to the scene, ultimately landing with the patient at the Carlos Haya Hospital in Malaga at 3pm.

The patient Samir Laftir has been on dialysis since 2011 and had been on the waiting list for a new kidney for almost a year. She is recovering well in isolation to avoid infection.

Currently, the deployment of an air ambulance requires approval from a “top advisory body”, who must delegate a helicopter and crew (such as INAER) to the case most in need of aerial support. “A medical helicopter is not a luxury, it is a necessity in cases like ours,” said Mohammed Ahmed, Samir's husband, who expressed his gratitude to Ingesa and INAER for their care.