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** Death of former UK ambulance pilot in chopper crash likely caused by radio distraction

** Ottawa paramedics injured in training exercise now back at work

** A distraction caused by fiddling with his on-board radio is being blamed for the death of a former air ambulance pilot in Central London last year. That is the word from Get Reading (Linda Fort/September 17) which quoted the Air Accidents Investigation branch report as saying Captain Pete Barns, 50, died January 16, 2013 when his Agusta A109E chopper hit a crane in Vauxhall. According to the investigation results, Barns either didn’t see the crane in his path or saw it too late. Fog was also cited as a contributing factor. After weather conditions prevented him from landing at Elstree Aerodrome, Barns headed to Redhill but decided en route to land in London. Barns, who ran a business flying for movies, had previously served with Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance. He left a girlfriend and two children behind.

** Two Ottawa, Ontario paramedics are back at work doing modified duties after suffering serious burns in a June 18th training exercise. 580 CFRA (September 17) said Superintendent Craig MacInnis and paramedic Reid Purdy continue, however, to deal with burning on the backs of their hands. According to the news station, MacInnis has been back for three weeks, while Purdy returned Tuesday. Both suffered second degree burns to the hands, legs, and other areas at the joint exercise with police in Kanata. One other paramedic and two police officers also suffered minor injuries in the explosion which occurred during forced entry training. The Ministry of Labour continues to investigate the accident.