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| Scots base sparks Russian rescue | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A rescue operation has been launched in eastern Russia - after a distress signal was picked up 3,700 miles away by a Scottish RAF base. | A rescue operation has been launched in eastern Russia - after a distress signal was picked up 3,700 miles away by a Scottish RAF base. |
| The alarm was raised by a biology research party from Nottingham University after a female member fell from a horse and broke her leg. | The alarm was raised by a biology research party from Nottingham University after a female member fell from a horse and broke her leg. |
| Their personal locater beacon was picked up by satellites monitored by RAF Kinloss in Moray. | Their personal locater beacon was picked up by satellites monitored by RAF Kinloss in Moray. |
| Russian rescue teams were alerted and sent to the remote Kamchatka region. | Russian rescue teams were alerted and sent to the remote Kamchatka region. |
| The 406 MHz distress beacon triggered by the research party is registered in the UK and uses GPS technology which gives a very accurate position within five seconds of being activated. | The 406 MHz distress beacon triggered by the research party is registered in the UK and uses GPS technology which gives a very accurate position within five seconds of being activated. |
| The only hitch is the language barrier, but the Russians speak very good English in the rescue centre that we have been dealing with Flt Sgt Tim DickinsonRAF Kinloss | The only hitch is the language barrier, but the Russians speak very good English in the rescue centre that we have been dealing with Flt Sgt Tim DickinsonRAF Kinloss |
| It was detected by the UK Mission Control Centre within the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre at RAF Kinloss at about 2200 BST on Thursday. | It was detected by the UK Mission Control Centre within the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre at RAF Kinloss at about 2200 BST on Thursday. |
| An RAF satellite monitoring system operator contacted her Russian counterparts, who have sent a rescue helicopter to attempt to reach the injured woman. | An RAF satellite monitoring system operator contacted her Russian counterparts, who have sent a rescue helicopter to attempt to reach the injured woman. |
| The group was nearing the end of a two-and-a-half month expedition to the Kamchatka peninsula when the accident happened. | The group was nearing the end of a two-and-a-half month expedition to the Kamchatka peninsula when the accident happened. |
| 'Huge distance' | 'Huge distance' |
| Severe weather was making the helicopter rescue very difficult. Due to the rugged terrain within the Kamchatka Nature Park, the only way out is by either horseback or helicopter. | |
| RAF rescue coordinator Flt Sgt Tim Dickinson told BBC Scotland it had been a "very unusual" situation for staff in Scotland to be alerting rescuers in Russia. | RAF rescue coordinator Flt Sgt Tim Dickinson told BBC Scotland it had been a "very unusual" situation for staff in Scotland to be alerting rescuers in Russia. |
| RAF Kinloss said it was a "very unusual" situation | |
| He added: "The only hitch is the language barrier, but the Russians speak very good English in the rescue centre that we have been dealing with so we have been very fortunate because unfortunately none of the staff here can speak Russian. | He added: "The only hitch is the language barrier, but the Russians speak very good English in the rescue centre that we have been dealing with so we have been very fortunate because unfortunately none of the staff here can speak Russian. |
| "The weather is very, very poor at the moment across in Russia and that is hampering the rescue efforts. | "The weather is very, very poor at the moment across in Russia and that is hampering the rescue efforts. |
| "It is a huge distance from ourselves, and even within Russia it is a significant distance from civilisation. We believe the Russians have managed to make communication with the group." | "It is a huge distance from ourselves, and even within Russia it is a significant distance from civilisation. We believe the Russians have managed to make communication with the group." |
| A spokeswoman for the University of Nottingham said: "We are liaising with the emergency services and academic staff to find out exactly what has happened." |