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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Kris Gourlay

East Lothian pilot, 69, 'stable' after miracle escape from microlight crash

A 69-year-old male is in stable condition following a microlight crash in East Lothian on Wednesday.

The man managed to escape the wreckage with the help of firefighters and specialist equipment, later being passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service, who rushed him to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Emergency services raced to the East Fortune airfield just before 11am on Wednesday, June 1, after receiving the call regarding a light aircraft crash.

READ MORE: Edinburgh man rescued by mercy crews after falling from Arthur's Seat

An eye witness in the area reported seeing the microlight miss the intended airfield and landed in a nearby corn field, sparking fears over their safety.

They said: "The microlight didn't land on the airstrip but in a corn field. The stricken aircraft was in the field behind the hangar."

Miraculously, the man escaped and Police Scotland confirmed that he remains in a stable condition for the time being.

A spokesperson added: "Officers were called to reports of a microlight crashing in a field in Athelstaneford, North Berwick at around 10.55am on Wednesday, 1 June, 2022.

"A 69-year-old man was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he remains in a stable condition.

"The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been notified."

On Wednesday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they freed a casualty using specialist equipment and two fire appliances were deployed to the scene, with the 69-year-old then being left in the care of ambulance crews.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson added: "We received a call at 10.40hrs this morning (Wednesday 1st June) to attend an incident at the East of Scotland Microlights, East Fortune.

"We dispatched two ambulances, one rapid response vehicle and a trauma team to the scene and the male patient was transported by road to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary."

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