Normally reserved for sports, events and activities, Ladysmith Secondary School’s field also served as a helicopter landing pad on Friday, April 22.The call for air support came after a medical emergency, said RCMP Staff Sgt. Roger Plamondon.Plamondon said some drug use was involved in the incident, but did not say it was the cause for the call.“They had to medivac the individual to Victoria hospital,” said Plamondon.Plamondon said the call has to get pretty serious for BC Ambulance to call in air support.Ladysmith Fire Chief Ray Delcourt said BC Ambulance can request the fire department help with an ‘autolaunch.’This means the fire department secures an area for a helicopter to land.“They page the fire department and we set up the landing zone for them and guide them in,” said Delcourt.That spot, said Delcourt, used to be Aggie Field, but new fencing and lights prompted the move to the high school field.“It’s not really a good place to land a helicopter if you have to,” said Delcourt.The high school was a natural choice, said Delcourt, noting the size.

Ladysmith Chronicle