Woman seriously injured by air ambulance downwash near Southend

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 12:32 · Archive

A woman filming an air ambulance taking off near Southend Airport was seriously injured when knocked over by the helicopter's downwash on 28 February.

A woman was seriously injured when knocked over by an air ambulance's downwash as it took off from a field next to Southend Airport on 28 February. She had stepped outside her house on Southend Road to film the helicopter's departure after hearing its engines start. Within about 50 seconds of the aircraft beginning its vertical climb, the downwash struck her and she was blown over. A relative came to her aid and she was taken to hospital.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigation found that the helicopter's crew could not see the woman during take-off. A hedgerow between the field and her house blocked the pilot's view. Before departing, the pilot had spoken to bystanders with children who were standing by a fence on the road and asked them to move across the road for safety, as required by the operator's procedures. The woman was not among those bystanders and so did not see this warning.

The AAIB found that the helicopter drifted east during take-off and nearby buildings and a parked car on the woman's drive probably funnelled and intensified the downwash, potentially making her injuries worse. An AAIB spokesperson said the speed of the downwash may have been greater due to the funnel effect.

Unaware that anyone had been injured, the 47-year-old pilot, who had almost 4,000 flight hours, continued his flight and later landed at North Weald Airfield. The helicopter operator, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, was told of the incident four days later by the woman's relative.

The operator's manual requires pilots to consider downwash risks to nearby people and property. Following this incident, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance issued new guidance to all pilots on 29 May 2026, warning that downwash can be dangerous during take-off as well as landing. The AAIB concluded that the crew had reasonably warned the bystanders they could see, but the injured woman could not see those warnings from where she stood.

How it is being reported

• Woman blown over and injured by air ambulance taking off near Southend AirportA woman suffered serious injuries after an air ambulance's downwash knocked her over near Southend Airport.Colchester Gazette · 13 Nov, 07:35
• Woman blown over and injured by air ambulance taking off near Southend AirportA woman suffered serious injuries after an air ambulance's downwash knocked her over near Southend Airport.Echo (Basildon) · 13 Nov, 07:35
• Air ambulance gusts left woman seriously injuredA woman filming the air ambulance taking off was blown off her feet by its downwash, a report says.BBC Essex · 13 Nov, 06:14
• Woman filming air ambulance blown over and seriously injured during take-off near Southend AirportThe woman had stepped outside her house to film the helicopter departEssexLive · 13 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Air Accidents Investigation Branch · Essex & Herts Air Ambulance · Southend Airport · Southend-on-Sea

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log