GIRL LIFTED TO SAFETY.

Byline: By ROD CHAYTOR

A BRITISH zoology student injured in a remote region of Russia was airlifted to safety yesterday after her distress signal was picked up - 3,700 miles away in Scotland.

Kimberley Warren, 20, fell from a horse and broke her leg in the Kamchatka Peninsula, a rugged volcanic ridge which is inhabited by grizzly bears - the only way in or out is by horseback or helicopter.

The second-year student was part of a biology research team from Nottingham University, who were nearing the end of a two-month expedition.

A distress beacon triggered by the party is registered in the UK and can give an accurate position within five seconds of being activated.

It was detected by the UK Mission Control Centre at RAF Kinloss in Moray late on Thursday. An RAF satellite monitoring system operator contacted her Russian counterparts, who sent a rescue helicopter.

RAF rescue coordinator Flt Sgt Tim Dickinson said it was "very unusual" for staff in Scotland to be alerting rescuers in Russia.

Kimberley, whose family live in Sway, Hampshire, was airlifted to the village of Esso, then taken to Petropavlovsk. She is stable and her injuries are not life-threatening.

Mum Liz Warren said last night: "All we want to do is get her home and give her a big hug."

CAPTION(S):

RESCUED Kimberley