A Wales Air Ambulance helicopter was left stranded in a playing field in Pembrokeshire for four days after it collided with a goalpost while trying to land.
The charity was called to Scar Farm Holiday Park in Saundersfoot on Wednesday afternoon in what is believed to have been a false alarm or hoax call.
Helicopter damaged on landing
The helicopter landed in a playing field at the holiday site but as it did so it made contact with a set of football goalposts, causing damage to both the posts and the aircraft itself.
David Williams, who owns a caravan at the park, said the tail of the aircraft “came down on top of the goalposts” and that damage to the helicopter meant it was not able to take off and return to its base in Carmarthenshire.
Hoax call suspected
He said, having spoken to one of the aviation crew at the scene, that the emergency call turned out to be a “hoax”. He said: “That’s the worst part about the whole thing.”
The helicopter, which is maintained and operated by Gama Aviation for Wales Air Ambulance, was damaged to the point that it had to remain on the playing field until Sunday morning - four days after it had landed.
Aircraft removed by crane
A road closure was put in place while specialists from N&A Crane Hire Ltd in Carmarthenshire moved the aircraft onto a transporter vehicle so that it could be taken away for checks and repairs.
Images from the scene show that the helicopter’s propellers were removed from the top of the aircraft prior to it being lifted from the playing field.
Scar Farm Holiday Park has confirmed that the site has remained open as normal throughout and that no further damage was caused to the park or its equipment.
A spokesman for Wales Air Ambulance said: “Wales Air Ambulance aviation partner, Gama Aviation, has made the charity aware of an occurrence in west Wales involving one of its aircraft.
“At no point was there any danger to the crew or members of the public, and no one was injured. No patient was on board. An internal investigation is under way and the relevant authorities have been notified.”
