"We will do everything we can to be there for you,” Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance CEO, Alex Lochrane has said, after his team airlifted Covid-19 patients from the Isle of Wight to hospital in Southampton, on Sunday.

The air ambulance and the coastguard's search and rescue helicopter were involved in the operation to transfer two patients to University Hospital Southampton, as St Mary's coped with rising hospitalisations.

Alex Lochrane said: “We’re in this struggle together, a struggle that is far from over.

"It is our duty to do everything we can to ensure the safety of residents on the Island and that they get the necessary critical care during this pandemic.

"We are prepared to do whatever it takes in this continued challenge against Covid-19. I can assure everyone within our region and beyond: if you are in serious need of our specialist medical skills, no matter who you are, we will do everything we can to be there for you.”

Today (Wednesday), daily cases are falling, but hospitalisations and deaths lag behind and there is a warning to keep following the #HandsFaceSpace and ventilate guidelines.

As Covid-19 infections rose over the weekend, and more Islanders needed hospital treatment, the air ambulance critical care team used their Helimed 56 helicopter to get to the Isle of Wight.

They were then picked up, along with the patients, by the coastguard helicopter, for the transfer to the mainland.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Coastguard helicopter in training by Sienna Anderson

The air ambulance team had trained in readiness, alongside the RAF and the coastguard.

They can also evacuate patients of from the Channel Islands, if required.