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Mission to rescue injured soldiers Mission to save injured soldiers
(10 minutes later)
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On board the plane with the injured soldiers
By Scott Ellis, BBC WestBy Scott Ellis, BBC West
It took just over 24 hours on an RAF mercy mission to fly home British soldiers critically injured in Afghanistan.It took just over 24 hours on an RAF mercy mission to fly home British soldiers critically injured in Afghanistan.
Military doctors and nurses based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire are keeping up a round-the-clock rescue mission for soldiers seriously injured on the front line in Afghanistan.Military doctors and nurses based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire are keeping up a round-the-clock rescue mission for soldiers seriously injured on the front line in Afghanistan.
The BBC has had exclusive access to one of their recent flights to the British base in the Helmand Province - home of some of the worst fighting in Afghanistan.The BBC has had exclusive access to one of their recent flights to the British base in the Helmand Province - home of some of the worst fighting in Afghanistan.
The team is part of a flying hospital which can get the wounded back home in just 24 hours.The team is part of a flying hospital which can get the wounded back home in just 24 hours.
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 0100 GMTTHURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 0100 GMT
A technical hitch on the C 17 Globemaster cargo plane means the flight from RAF Brize Norton is slow to get away.A technical hitch on the C 17 Globemaster cargo plane means the flight from RAF Brize Norton is slow to get away.
A six-strong team of RAF doctors, nurses and technicians, have set up their makeshift intensive care unit in the back of the giant transporter plane.A six-strong team of RAF doctors, nurses and technicians, have set up their makeshift intensive care unit in the back of the giant transporter plane.
The aluminium floor of the aircraft is cold, so they make me a bed using a battlefield stretcher.The aluminium floor of the aircraft is cold, so they make me a bed using a battlefield stretcher.
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 0800 GMTTHURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 0800 GMT
A few hours of sleep is interrupted for a landing at a military base in Qatar, where it is time for fresh pilots and more fuel.The pilots fly to Qatar first to refuel and change shiftsA few hours of sleep is interrupted for a landing at a military base in Qatar, where it is time for fresh pilots and more fuel.The pilots fly to Qatar first to refuel and change shifts
With the four jet engines off we can actually talk, so I learn more about the mission.With the four jet engines off we can actually talk, so I learn more about the mission.
A Royal Marine has been seriously injured by an improvised explosive device.A Royal Marine has been seriously injured by an improvised explosive device.
He has lost his left foot, and has serious injuries to a hand and his face and needs to be back in the UK as soon as possible for surgery.He has lost his left foot, and has serious injuries to a hand and his face and needs to be back in the UK as soon as possible for surgery.
Another soldier has a severe injury to his right leg after a road crash.Another soldier has a severe injury to his right leg after a road crash.
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1045 GMTTHURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1045 GMT
We take off from Qatar with the replacement pilots.We take off from Qatar with the replacement pilots.
They tell me emergency evacuation flights from Afghanistan come out of the blue every two weeks or so, and the plane is laid on especially for the mission.They tell me emergency evacuation flights from Afghanistan come out of the blue every two weeks or so, and the plane is laid on especially for the mission.
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1330 GMTTHURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1330 GMT
The landing into the British base at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province is always risky.The landing into the British base at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province is always risky.
The pilots throw the plane left and right in the dark - just in case we are in the insurgents' sights.The pilots throw the plane left and right in the dark - just in case we are in the insurgents' sights.
In the back, the medical team is ready to start work.In the back, the medical team is ready to start work.
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1520 GMTTHURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1520 GMT
The injured are on board on stretchers mounted four feet off the ground and we take off from Camp Bastion.Soldiers receive treatment in the on board intensive care unitThe injured are on board on stretchers mounted four feet off the ground and we take off from Camp Bastion.Soldiers receive treatment in the on board intensive care unit
The doctors and nurses are hard at work around them in the dark.The doctors and nurses are hard at work around them in the dark.
The Royal Marine is sedated, his head completely bandaged.The Royal Marine is sedated, his head completely bandaged.
A nurse tells me that patients are sometimes in a coma for weeks, sedated in Afghanistan and then brought round at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.A nurse tells me that patients are sometimes in a coma for weeks, sedated in Afghanistan and then brought round at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.
They keep a diary for the patients - to help the soldiers piece their lives back together.They keep a diary for the patients - to help the soldiers piece their lives back together.
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2200 GMTTHURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2200 GMT
The soldier injured in a road accident is in trouble.The soldier injured in a road accident is in trouble.
His injured right leg is going white, the skin waxy and cold to touch, a sign of poor blood circulation.His injured right leg is going white, the skin waxy and cold to touch, a sign of poor blood circulation.
The medics decide they cannot afford to wait to get to the UK.The medics decide they cannot afford to wait to get to the UK.
The pilots divert to a US military base in Germany - where the soldier gets immediate surgery.The pilots divert to a US military base in Germany - where the soldier gets immediate surgery.
FRIDAY 7 NOVEMBER 0200 GMTFRIDAY 7 NOVEMBER 0200 GMT
We land at East Midlands Airport where a waiting NHS ambulance takes the injured Royal Marine and his RAF carers straight to a military wing at Selly Oak Hospital.We land at East Midlands Airport where a waiting NHS ambulance takes the injured Royal Marine and his RAF carers straight to a military wing at Selly Oak Hospital.
We have done nearly 8,000 miles of flying in just over 24 hours.We have done nearly 8,000 miles of flying in just over 24 hours.
But for all - it is mission accomplished.But for all - it is mission accomplished.