by Sam Lennon

Drama hit Folkestone’s Boxing Day Dip when an ambulance helicopter landed on the beach for a spectator who collapsed.

The Kent Air Ambulance arrived on the Sunny Sands beach after a woman in her 90s suffered hypothermia in the freezing weather.

Organiser Steve Lowe said: “The helicopter had landed after the dip, and the participants had left, but the beach still had to be cleared of dog walkers.

“It also had to leave the Sunny Sands quickly because the tide was coming in. In fact the water was only 6ft away before it took off.”

The woman collapsed on top of the ramps above the beach as she was watching her grandson take part in the event. She had first been attended to by St John Ambulance staff, who then called South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Mr Lowe said: “We understand that no land ambulance was available at the time so in the end the helicopter was called in.

“We don’t know what made her unwell but the doctor at the scene said she was not too seriously ill.”

The woman collapsed at 11.15am just as the last dippers were going into the water.

The St John Ambulance team and a paramedic arriving in a car stabilised her at the scene until the Kent Air Ambulance arrived.

The ambulance landed at 12.30pm and the woman was flown to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital, but has since been released.

A Kent Air Ambulance spokesman said: “We were called for the medical collapse of an elderly woman who suffered hypothermia.

“We were called by land paramedics and arrived 15 minutes later. She was treated at the scene and taken to hospital.”

The annual Boxing Day Dip had gone ahead with 150 participants and 1,500 spectators on a freezing day, with air temperatures at 0C.

A total £7,000 was raised. with half going to the organisers Folkestone Lions Club’s chosen charities and the other half going to causes chosen by the participants.