RAF Valley team involved in Atlantic rescue

Oct 7 2009

ROYAL Air Force Search and Rescue Sea King from C Flight, 22 Squadron based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, carried out a long range rescue of a seriously injured sailor from Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal, 200 miles out into the Atlantic last Wednesday.

One of the 225 seamen on board the ship had a crushed hand and his fingers would have to be amputated if the RAF crew hadn’t transferred him to Sligo hospital in Ireland for emergency treatment.

The RAF crew of call sign Rescue 122 took off at 11.20am local time after the aircraft was stripped of surplus equipment to maximise its range.

Co-pilot Steve Wilders said: "It’s the first time in two years that C flight have carried out this type of long range rescue. It’s reassuring to have an RAF Nimrod as top cover and that the frigate does have aviation fuel on board if the situation becomes critical."

As the aircraft neared the rendezvous point in deteriorating weather and sea mist at low level, the Sea King’s radar picked up just one ping from the vessel before it went unserviceable.

On his return to RAF Valley, flight sergeant Nick Swannick reported: "I managed to get one ping out of the radar but luckily it was the one ping we needed."

The Sea King landed on the rear deck of the ship and with rotors running, brought the 50 yr-old casualty and his escort safely aboard. After a two-hour flight to Sligo airport, the casualty was taken by ambulance to hospital for emergency surgery.

Group captain Jonathan Dixon said: "This is an example of the RAF Search and Rescue Force deploying one of its many capabilities to save life and assist people in distress. In this particular case, the helicopter had to fly the maximum possible range to HMCS Montreal and then return safely to Ireland – there was nowhere to land if things went wrong or the fuel ran out.

"There was no room for error and close cooperation with Irish organisations and Falmouth Coastguard were fundamental in ensuring success."

Last year, the SAR Force rescued nearly 2000 people in a record breaking 2179 callouts.

Mr Dixon added: "Perhaps surprisingly to many, most of our rescues are conducted inland and the crews must to be able to respond day or night, over water or land and in some of the worst possible weather.

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Wg Cdr Bentley and his crew for a well executed mission, but also to thank all the SAR crews and supporting elements across the UK for the dedication, professionalism and bravery that they display on a daily basis."