5-year-old flown to Nome hospital

ANCHORAGE - A 5-year-old child is being treated at a Nome hospital after being flown there from Little Diomede Island.

The Alaska Air National Guard did not release the name and condition of the child.

The Guard said it responded to an urgent request for help Wednesday.

Only helicopters can land on the island and no civilian choppers were available.

Rescuers from Kulis Air National Guard Base in Anchorage responded in an ★★-60 Pavehawk helicopter at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

They were accompanied by an HC-130 Hercules plane, which twice refueled the helicopter along the way.

Rescuers arrived at the island at about 6:30 p.m. and flew the child to Norton Sound Regional Hospital.