British paratroopers have parachuted medical supplies and personnel to the remote island of Tristan da Cunha after a third Briton on the island was suspected of having hantavirus. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed on Friday that a British national who disembarked from the cruise ship MV Hondius had a suspected case of the virus.
The mission, involving six paratroopers, a Royal Air Force consultant and an army nurse from 16 Air Assault Brigade, saw oxygen supplies and medical aid dropped onto the island, which has no airstrip and is normally only accessible by boat. An RAF A400M transport aircraft flew from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Ascension Island, supported by an RAF Voyager, before heading to Tristan da Cunha.
Brig Ed Cartwright, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, described the operation as “risky”, noting that there was “7,000 miles and about 56 hours” between the request for help and the supplies landing. The drop zone was a “golf course covered in rocks”, with high winds making the jump particularly dangerous.
The patient’s oxygen supply was running out, leaving few options. The Ministry of Defence said it was the first time medical personnel had been parachuted in for humanitarian support on the island, which has a population of 221. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the safety of “all members of the British family” was the top priority.
