Home »
The rescue of a young male caught in heavy surf was accomplished through the highest standards of skill, professionalism and crew co-operation, combined with significant bravery and determination.
On the afternoon of Thursday 20th Aug 2020, the crew of Rescue 924, a Bristow search and rescue helicopter based at Newquay airport, were scrambled to assist with reports of casualties caught in heavy surf in Church Cove, off the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall.
Arriving on scene at 14:15, it was clear that the horseshoe shaped cove was being subjected to the full onslaught of Storm Ellen with an average 4 metre swell and wind driven waves breaking into the cove. Skilfully bringing the aircraft to the hover, the crew commenced a meticulous search of the cove and a head was eventually sighted in the surf below the aircraft. Drawing on close teamwork and excellent communication, the Winch operator conned the aircraft into position and skilfully lowered Winchman Paramedic Niall Hanson towards the casualty. On entering the water Niall was immediately struck by the first of a series of large waves, as he and the casualty struggled to gain contact. Several more waves struck and submerged them both, making it impossible to utilise the rescue strops. Having gained a manual grasp of each other, Niall and the casualty were struck by a further large swell and on broaching the surface Niall indicated to beginning winch him in, despite the lack of a securing strop. In his words, he turned to see a further wall of water and thought “I can’t hang onto him…”. Their perilous situation rapidly became clear to the remainder of the crew, who focussed on expediting their recovery into the aircraft.
Swiftly manoeuvring to land on the beach, the crew provided medical support to the casualty, who was hypothermic and exhausted, before transporting him to Treliske Hospital where he was handed over to the Emergency Department.
Throughout this challenging rescue the crew demonstrated outstanding airmanship, professionalism and crew co-operation, combined with outstanding bravery and determination. As such the Bristow crew of Rescue 924 has been selected as the 2021 recipient of the Edward and Maisie Lewis Award for an outstanding air sea rescue.
