AIR ambulance paramedics who landed in Colchester Zoo’s elephant enclosure have described the experience as “unusual”.
The Essex Air Ambulance was called to the busy visitors attraction on Sunday after a teenage visitor had breathing difficulties.
An ambulance and rapid response vehicle were on scene within 11 minutes but summoned the helicopter after the 19-year-old woman fell unconscious.
Zoo staff ushered the four elephants inside and the helicopter was able to land much to the surprise of the hundreds of bank holiday weekend visitors.
The patient was treated and taken to hospital in a non-serious condition.
An ambulance service spokesman said: "Landing at the zoo was one of the more unusual places that the aircrew have needed to do.
“The pilots follow strict landing protocol for any site, and this incident involved working closely with zoo staff to ensure the animals and visitors would not have been adversely affected."
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