SAN ANTONIO (August 6, 2012)--Mattresses were piled on the ground to help a medical helicopter with a damaged skid make a safe landing in San Antonio.

Officials with PHI Air Medical say the patient and three crew members aboard the helicopter escaped injury in the emergency landing early Sunday at San Antonio International Airport.

PHI spokesman Brad Deutser says the helicopter clipped a cell phone tower early Sunday and lost one of its skids.

The pilot then asked airport tower controllers for help in making a balanced landing.

Firefighters grabbed several mattresses from their living area.

Capt. Kevin Campbell said the helicopter landed on top of the mattresses, which were held steady by weights.

Another medical helicopter then flew the patient to San Antonio Military Medical Center.

Further details on the patient, who was transported from the Bryan area, weren't released.