Police helicopter in search for children

Eitan Grant - Eitan Grant • Published 2 Oct 2008 12:30

A major search and rescue operation was launched after three children went missing.

Cops patrolled the streets and a search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to hunt for the primary school kids.

The youngsters from Erskine failed to return home from classes at Bargarran Primary school last Thursday sparking fears for their safety.

After four hours away from home a low-level sweep over the whole of Erskine by the chopper, with its full beams on, spotted the wayward local children near a wooded area next to a wind turbine.

One woman who lives near to where the girls were found said: 'I saw the helicopter flying low over my house with its spotlight sweeping across the countryside.

'Then I heard the words, "Stand where you are, don"t move" as the helicopter swooped low over houses at the back of the Bargarran woods.

'It is unusual for children to go missing in Erskine and I think that"s one reason why it was taken so seriously.'

The wandering kids were found at 6pm last Thursday by police.

A few years ago missing foster kids from Northbar prompted a similar search operation.

On that occasion the children were discovered at almost exactly the same location as last week"s missing kids.

The incident was the second time in a week helicopters were in action over Erskine.

Sub-post master for Bargarran Ken Nicholson had to be airlifted by a helicopter after falling ill while taking his dog a walk.

He became dizzy and disorientated and a passer-by called for an ambulance.

But the mercy crew were unable to reach him and the helicopter was called in.

Ken spent all of two and a half minutes in the air being transported to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow to be told by doctors that he had an ear infection.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 02 Oct 08

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