Hurricane Dorian: Elderly British woman rescued from rubble in Bahamas | World News

A British citizen has been rescued after being trapped under rubble for several days on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas.

The Royal Navy Wildcat, deployed with RFA Mounts Bay, conducted the successful search and rescue mission on Wednesday, a Ministry of Defence statement said.

The elderly woman was rescued from rubble and brought back to RFA Mounts Bay to be treated by Royal Navy medics onboard. She was given emergency medication before being airlifted to Nassau, the capital.

Her condition is said to be “poor and deteriorating”.

Wildcat pilot Lieutenant Lee Holborn said: “We are tasked to provide reconnaissance and assistance where necessary and it is always rewarding to know that you have made a significant difference, not only to the wider island, but to the individual families of those affected.”

The Wildcat also took an American woman, her two children and her baby to hospital in Nassau.

Surgeon Lieutenant Rebecca Miles said: “The patients were in a poorly condition and required immediate medical care. It was hugely rewarding to utilise my training and skills to provide essential and immediate lifesaving care to this family.”

RFA Mounts Bay Commanding Officer, Captain Rob Anders, added: “The wildcat has proven time and again its vital importance in support of our mission, be it the delivery of essential relief ashore, conducting reconnaissance or undertaking lifesaving search and rescue tasks.”

The Mounts Bay team has been delivering shelter kits, ration packs and water across the islands, and the Wildcat will be airlifting relief to outlying, cut off communities in liaison with the Royal Bahamian Defence Force.

The ship has been in the Caribbean since June, preparing for hurricane season, and was moved to the Bahamas last week in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian.

An estimated 70,000 people need assistance in the Bahamas after the hurricane swept through.

Dorian, a category five storm which is the most powerful, has killed at least 30 people in the country but authorities expect that number to rise.

As many as 13,000 homes may have been destroyed or severely damaged after the nation was pounded by winds up to 185mph and gusts up to 220mph for days earlier this week.