A 37-year old Maltese fisherman from Zabbar, Andrew Debono, was yesterday morning urgently medically evacuated by means of an Armed Forces of Malta rescue-helicopter.

The casualty was on board the local fishing-vessel Sant’ Anna in a position 24 nautical miles (NM) from Malta. At 8 am, as the vessel had started to proceed back to Malta, the vessel traffic station of Valletta Port Control was alerted about Debono’s condition as he had been injured.

The AFM Air Wing’s Alouette rescue-helicopter was immediately scrambled into the air by the AFM Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC Malta) at Luqa Barracks, and proceeded to the Sant’Anna`s position. The casualty was then winch-hoisted on board the rescue-helicopter and safely conveyed to Mater Dei Hospital at 9.20am.