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Hercules in baby twins transfer Hercules in baby twins transfer
(30 minutes later)
Twins born prematurely on a Scottish island are being transferred to the mainland on an RAF Hercules aircraft. Twins born prematurely on a Scottish island have been transferred to the mainland on an RAF Hercules aircraft.
The Scottish Ambulance Service said the mother went into labour at 27 weeks and gave birth in hospital in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, on Sunday night.The Scottish Ambulance Service said the mother went into labour at 27 weeks and gave birth in hospital in Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, on Sunday night.
Medical experts had been working to stabilise the babies, whose condition was described as "very poor", before the flight to a hospital in Glasgow.Medical experts had been working to stabilise the babies, whose condition was described as "very poor", before the flight to a hospital in Glasgow.
The Hercules had to be brought in due to snow and high winds.The Hercules had to be brought in due to snow and high winds.
An ambulance spokesman said the mother was not with the twins but was in a stable condition and expected to follow in an air ambulance later, possibly on Tuesday.An ambulance spokesman said the mother was not with the twins but was in a stable condition and expected to follow in an air ambulance later, possibly on Tuesday.
Consultants from the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow, who were flown out to Stornoway by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter, are travelling with the twins.Consultants from the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow, who were flown out to Stornoway by a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter, are travelling with the twins.
Medical emergencyMedical emergency
The flight left Stornoway at 0540 GMT and was due to arrive in Glasgow at 0615 GMT. The flight left Stornoway at 0540 GMT arrive in Glasgow at about 0630 GMT.
Because of forecasts of snow and high winds we didn't feel it was safe to fly to the mainland Scottish Ambulance Service spokesmanBecause of forecasts of snow and high winds we didn't feel it was safe to fly to the mainland Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman
According to the Scottish Ambulance Service the woman gave birth at the Western Isles Hospital.According to the Scottish Ambulance Service the woman gave birth at the Western Isles Hospital.
A spokesman said: "We received a call at about 6.30pm last night that a 27 weeks pregnant female was having a twin birth.A spokesman said: "We received a call at about 6.30pm last night that a 27 weeks pregnant female was having a twin birth.
"It is my understanding that the twins were born late last night."It is my understanding that the twins were born late last night.
"We sent two consultants to Stornoway in the Sea King. But because of forecasts of snow and high winds we didn't feel it was safe to fly to the mainland.""We sent two consultants to Stornoway in the Sea King. But because of forecasts of snow and high winds we didn't feel it was safe to fly to the mainland."
He said the plan was to fly the twins to the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital (in Glasgow) in the Hercules. He said the plan was to fly the twins to Glasgow's Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in the Hercules.
Duty HerculesDuty Hercules
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that a Hercules had been scrambled to Stornoway "to assist in a medical emergency".The Ministry of Defence confirmed that a Hercules had been scrambled to Stornoway "to assist in a medical emergency".
It arrived shortly after 0230 GMT and was on standby for the transfer flight.It arrived shortly after 0230 GMT and was on standby for the transfer flight.
Michael Mulford from RAF Kinloss said the weather in the Hebrides was very wild and windy.Michael Mulford from RAF Kinloss said the weather in the Hebrides was very wild and windy.
Speaking about the medical evacuation he said: "The normal way of evacuating two babies would be to put them in an air ambulance, a fixed wing. But I think the wind is just beyond the margin so what we did was, we got the duty Hercules to fly up from Lyneham."Speaking about the medical evacuation he said: "The normal way of evacuating two babies would be to put them in an air ambulance, a fixed wing. But I think the wind is just beyond the margin so what we did was, we got the duty Hercules to fly up from Lyneham."
Hercules aircraft have been used several times in recent years for baby transfers but it is thought to be the first time that twins have been involved in a flight of this kind.Hercules aircraft have been used several times in recent years for baby transfers but it is thought to be the first time that twins have been involved in a flight of this kind.