First Admiral Mamu Sadi Alee of MMEA said the chef, Noor Herayani Zakiria, 28, from Kampung Tekek, needed immediate surgery to prevent complications of peritonitis.

He said a medical officer at the Tekek Health Clinic, Dr Jamil Aizuddin Junaidi, confirmed that the woman had been receiving treatment from 11.30pm yesterday.

“The clinic sought help from MMEA and an Agusta AW139 helicopter from Subang Maritime Air Station was dispatched to Kampung Tekek to pick up the patient,” he told reporters here Tuesday.

The helicopter arrived at the Kuantan Municipal Council padang at 2.45pm with Noor Herayani, accompanied by husband, Azri Alias, 28, and a medical officer and a nurse from the health clinic.

The flight from Pulau Tioman, which took off at 2pm, took quite a while to reach Kuantan due to extreme windy conditions.

– BERNAMA