Oct 14 (Japan Times) - A Tokyo Fire Department helicopter rescuing a 77-year-old woman in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, who had been isolated because of flooding caused by Typhoon Hagibis, accidentally dropped her about 40 meters to the ground because her rescuers did not properly attach her to the rope when they were attempting to winch her to safety during the botched operation.
She died after being taken to a hospital.
“We are deeply sorry for carrying out the wrong procedure†during the rescue operation, Hirofumi Shimizu, of the fire department, said.
According to the fire department, two personnel were taking part in the rescue operation, in which woman had been wrapped in a bag-shaped carrier and was being lifted up to the helicopter by rope.
