Orang Asli becomes first Malaysian COVID patient to be evacuated via helicopter

GUA MUSANG – The Air Unit of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) conducted the first Medical Evacuation (Medevac) flight carrying a Covid-19 Orang Asli woman to Pos Belatim yesterday.

Asalmi Alang, 59, was suffering from breathing difficulties, coughing and loss of smell. She was diagnosed with stage four of Covid-19.

Public Relations Officer of JBPM Air Unit, Central Region Base Subang, Selangor, Assistant Superintendent of Fire, Mohd. Farhan Marzuki said they deployed an Agusta 109E (A109 E) helicopter for the evacuation.

It is the model used in the Covid-19 National Vaccination Outreach Program in a rural Orang Asli village.

“The flight departed from Gua Musang Civic Center Field at 3.25 pm ​​to Pos Belatim to pick up the patient who was already in a dire condition.

“The helicopter landed at the destination 20 minutes later after picking up the patient,” he said to reporters today.

Mohd. Farhan said that the flight landed safely at the Fire and Rescue Station in Gua Musang at 4.25 pm.

The patient was escorted by JBPM to Gua Musang Hospital and is currently in stable condition.

Cover Images via Kosmo!

Author: J.W Chan
Proofreader: Anna Wong