Parachuting to remote island to deliver hantavirus aid

Members of the British Army parachuted into the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha to help a British national suspected of being infected with hantavirus.

Two paratroopers jumped together with an intensive care nurse and a specialist doctor. Medical supplies have also been delivered.

The patient left the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly virus outbreak in mid-April in one of the most remote inhabited areas of the UK overseas.

Capt. George Lacey, who parachuted with the Pathfinder platoon, said strong winds made the mission “particularly tricky.”

He said the team would stay on the island for a few days to await recovery because “unfortunately you can’t parachute back from the island”.