Woman died after being blown over by helicopter draft

Police reveal more details of Plymouth incident

Police have revealed more details of a incident involving a helicopter landing at Derriford Hospital on Friday in which a woman in her eighties was killed.

As well as Devon and Cornwall Police, the Air Accident Investigation Branch will look into the circumstances of the tragedy in which an 87-year-old from the Plymouth area died.

Detective inspector Andy Hodges said: “It is currently believed that at around 11:20 a.m. on Friday 4 March, a HM Coastguard helicopter was landing at the helipad at Derriford.

"The helicopter was carrying a casualty linked to a separate job earlier that morning.

“Whilst the helicopter was in the process of landing on the helipad, the down draft caused one member of the public, an 87-year-old woman from the Plymouth area who was on a near-by footpath to be blown over.

“She sustained a serious head injury and later died in Derriford Hospital. Her next of kin have been informed and a file is to be prepared for the coroner.

“A second woman, also in their eighties, was in the car park when it is believed the down draft caused the car door to slam shut whilst she was exiting her vehicle. She has suffered a broken pelvis and remains in hospital in a stable condition.”

DI Hodges continued: “Our role now is to assist with the investigation which is now being led on by the Air Accident Investigations Branch.

“This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts go out to all affected by what took place yesterday at Derriford.”

The attached video is from BBC Spotlight on Friday before the details above were revealed.