Woman flown to hospital after being attacked by sheep rustlers

The ambulance crew requested the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) helicopter
The ambulance crew requested the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) helicopter

A woman has been airlifted to hospital after suffering a serious head injury when trying to stop two sheep rustlers, paramedics have said.

Police and ambulance were called at 1:25pm yesterday to a report that a woman in her 40s was hit with a large piece of wood when trying to stop two men stealing her sheep in Picton, near Crathorne.

She was flown to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and is said to be in a stable condition.

Described as suffering from “serious” and “severe” injuries to her head, the ambulance crew requested the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) helicopter take the victim to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

The air ambulance service said in a statement: "The patient was assessed and treated on the scene by the GNNAS crew before being flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “Police were contacted at 1.25pm on Monday 25 July with reports of an assault on a woman near Picton, Yarm.

"Air ambulance attended and took the woman to James Cook Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries."