LifeFlight first medical flight

On June 10th, 2008, "LifeFlight 1", flown by Pilot Joseph Rios, accompanied by Senior Flight Doctor Dr. Javier Bernard and Senior Rescue Specialist Danilo Bernal, was called upon by personnel at the US Embassy, Panama, to assist with a medical flight. Whilst we are still not fully operational, awaiting completion of paperwork, we responded to the flight at no cost to the patient and have sought no compensation.  

The patient was an elderly male, who suffered a heart attack, whilst on a missionary visit to Panama, and was stabilized at the Chicho Fabrega Hospital in Santiago. It was determined that the patient should be transported to a Hospital in Panama City for a Life Saving procedure as soon as possible. In Panama, the only alternative was to send a Ground Ambulance from Panama City, a round trip of approximately 7 hours. Round Trip for "LifeFlight 1" was 2 hours, Albrook to Santiago, Santiago to Mirimar Hotel and the remainder of the transport was completed by Ground Ambulance, as no Heli-Pad was available at the receiving hospital.