A medical helicopter landed at West Berkeley’s San Pablo Park on Thursday afternoon to take a patient to UC Davis, according to unconfirmed scanner reports, for care.
The Berkeley Fire Department picked up the patient from Alta Bates Hospital at about 3:10 p.m., and planned to meet the helicopter at the park, according to scanner traffic.
Carolyn Kemp, spokeswoman for the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, said the hospital and Berkeley Fire Department began working together around 3 p.m. “to ensure a helicopter airlift of a patient with a life-threatening and rare medical condition.”
Kemp could not provide additional information due to medical privacy laws.
The Berkeley Police Department put out a Nixle alert to the public just before 3 p.m. about the helicopter: “A medical helicopter will be landing in San Pablo Park for a Alta Bates patient transfer.”
The Fire Department said it would likely be at the park with the patient by about 3:25 p.m., according to scanner traffic.
Authorities cleared the park of community members in the interest of public safety.
Update, 3:38 p.m. According to unconfirmed scanner traffic, the helicopter is now “airborne and en route to UC Davis.”
Update, 3:45 p.m. Authorities have reopened the park to the public, according to Officer Byron White, a police spokesman.
Due to the developing nature of this story, it was updated after publication.
Do you rely on Berkeleyside for local news? Support independent journalism by becoming a Berkeleyside member for $10 a month or even less, or by making a one-time donation.
