Injured Spanish tourist airlifted from desert to hospital

Dubai Police on Saturday airlifted a Spanish tourist who was injured badly when a quad bike he was riding in Margham desert flipped and rolled several times to Rashid Hospital, an officer said.

Lt-Colonel Khalfan Salem Al Mazroui, deputy director of Air Rescue in the Transport and Rescue Department of Dubai Police, told Gulf News that the 45-year-old Spaniard was with a group of tourists in the desert near Sky Dive Margham when the incident happened at 10am on Saturday.

“The land rescue team rushed to the scene and called us to transport the man to hospital as he had suffered serious injuries in the back. We airlifted him to Rashid Hospital,” Lt-Col Al Mazroui told Gulf News.

A police helicopter reached the place in 20 minutes, flown by crew members Colonel Pilot Essam Ahmad Bin Hafidh and Lt Abdul Aziz Al Noor, with two paramedics from Dubai Ambulance Service.

“The paramedics gave him first aid and then rushed him to the hospital. Land and rescue officers were the first people who arrived on the scene,” Lt-Colonel Al Mazroui added.

He said the injured tourist was also a helicopter pilot.

Dubai Police urged the public to be careful when riding bikes in the desert and make sure to take precautionary measures before enjoying their rides.

source: GULF NEWS