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  • RAF Airlift Crewman from Canadian Warship

    A Royal Air Force rescue helicopter from Valley in Wales has airlifted a crewman with an injured hand from the Canadian Warship Montreal off the West Coast tonight, he was taken to hospital in Sligo. A Nimrod from Kinloss provided top cover for the rescue.

  • #2
    The vessel carries a Sea King. I wonder why this was not deployed to airlift the casualty??

    Below is a more detailed report :


    A dramatic Search and Rescue (SAR) mission that saw a Canadian seaman saved by a Royal Air Force crew, took place more than 200 miles off the Atlantic Coast yesterday.

    Canadian Frigate, HMCS Montreal sent out a distress signal after it ran into difficulties some 220 miles west of Ireland. With deteriorating weather conditions and thick mist, locating the ship might have proved a challenge. However, a Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley in Anglesey, was the first on the scene.

    Among the 225 seamen on board, was a 50-year-old man whose hand had been crushed by the ship and whose fingers were at risk of being amputated. Acting quickly, the RAF crew from ‘C’ Flight, 22 Squadron transferred him to Sligo hospital in Ireland for emergency treatment and his hand was saved.

    The rescue saw the helicopter fly to its maximum range as it reached the remote point in the Atlantic; making it an extremely long and complex mission requiring close cooperation with the Irish authorities and Falmouth Coastguard. The Sea King was stripped of surplus equipment to maximise its range and refuelled at Blacksod airfield in Ireland before crossing the Atlantic to rendezvous with the 4,770 tonne, 132 metre long vessel.

    The Co-pilot Steve Wilders said: ‘It’s the first time in two years that ‘C’ flight has been asked to carry out such a long range rescue and it was touch and go whether we could make it in time.’

    The Sea King landed on the rear deck of HMCS Montreal at 1736 hours and brought the 50 yr-old casualty and his escort safely aboard. After a 2 hour flight to Sligo airport, the casualty was taken by ambulance to hospital for successful emergency surgery.

    Speaking from RAF Valley, Group Captain Jonathan Dixon, the RAF Search and Rescue Force Commander said:

    “The helicopter was operating at its maximum range so there was no room for error. There was nowhere to land if things went wrong or the fuel ran out. This mission highlights the dedication, professionalism and bravery that the SAR crews display on a daily basis. Last year, the SAR Force rescued nearly 2000 people in a record breaking 2179 callouts; so far, this has been another busy and successful year.”


    Some short footage from the BBC on the rescue.


    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8284421.stm
    Last edited by pmtts; 1 October 2009, 19:36.

    Comment


    • #3
      isn't there a closer Irish Coast Guard Sea King that could have completed this mission instead?

      i'm sure i've seen one on here somewhere recently.
      RGJ

      ...Once a Rifleman - Always a Rifleman... Celer et Audax

      The Rifles

      Comment


      • #4
        Hats off to the Sea King crew. I hope this gets wider publicity in the UK because the SAR station in my neck of the woods RAF Boulmer has just had its operations cut to daylight hours only. The excuse in the local press is crew availability but I guess it’s more about winding down the service. Non military SAR is/was a big part of the service.

        Originally posted by pmtts View Post

        The vessel carries a Sea King. I wonder why this was not deployed to airlift the casualty??
        The ships website says the on board helo is a CH-124 Sea King an ASW variant. Probably a lot of kit on board and not much room inside for a stretcher/casualty.


        Originally posted by pmtts View Post

        “This mission highlights the dedication, professionalism and bravery that the SAR crews display on a daily basis.”
        Worth repeating - applies to all SAR crews.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by RoyalGreenJacket View Post
          isn't there a closer Irish Coast Guard Sea King that could have completed this mission instead?

          i'm sure i've seen one on here somewhere recently.
          Ha ha ha.

          Men with the Queen's commission save people of the coast of Ireland yet again.
          Meh.

          Comment


          • #6
            Well, first off, the range of operation of the irish coast guard extends to 200 miles out. This was farther out than that.
            Secondly, can anyone actually confirm that the irish coast guard were not tied up with something else at the time?
            Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
            Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
            Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
            Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by yooklid View Post
              Ha ha ha.

              Men with the Queen's commission save people of the coast of Ireland yet again.
              In truth its Queens men (and perhaps women) saving Queens men (HMCS). Not that it matters.

              On a serious note. I dont think any Irish Coast Guard S61N would have trained to land on any ships deck. Open to correction here.
              Last edited by Orion; 1 October 2009, 22:18.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by johnny no stars View Post
                Well, first off, the range of operation of the irish coast guard extends to 200 miles out. This was farther out than that.
                Secondly, can anyone actually confirm that the irish coast guard were not tied up with something else at the time?

                it doesn't make sense that if the incident is further than 200 miles out that a SAR chopper from another country few hundred miles in the opposite direction has to be scrambled to fly over the irish SAR to get to the casualty.

                so it's irrelevant if the irish SAR was on another task or the crew were drinking brews and waving as the RAF chopper passed overhead.

                i don't think the SAR's of any country get enough support to be honest but this set up seems ridiculous unless someone knows a logical reason?!
                RGJ

                ...Once a Rifleman - Always a Rifleman... Celer et Audax

                The Rifles

                Comment


                • #9
                  RGJ

                  If the crew of the Irish coast guard were busy doing something else that required their attendance well they can hardly leave can they? So yes it IS relevent as to whether they were tied up with something else. I'm not saying they were, I'm saying that we don't know the full facts. The irsh coast guard do a great job. They train hard and put themselves in situations that most people would hope to never have to be in. They deserve our praise and support, not our automatic assumption that they're lazy.

                  Oh and as someone else rightly pointed out, it was Queen's men saving Queen's men. I actually see that as more appropriate if it can be done - why not keep it in house? But maybe that's just me. And also take note that they were working in close cooperation with the Irish authorities. So before people start slating people who do a fantastic job, take a deep breath and think for a minute about all the variety of possibilties.
                  Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
                  Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
                  Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
                  Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by RoyalGreenJacket View Post
                    it doesn't make sense that if the incident is further than 200 miles out that a SAR chopper from another country few hundred miles in the opposite direction has to be scrambled to fly over the irish SAR to get to the casualty.

                    so it's irrelevant if the irish SAR was on another task or the crew were drinking brews and waving as the RAF chopper passed overhead.

                    i don't think the SAR's of any country get enough support to be honest but this set up seems ridiculous unless someone knows a logical reason?!
                    Well said, a clear and well argued point. In particular the bit that says a SAR asset on an ongoing tasking should be diverted to another tasking regardless of the impact. I also agree its generally a good idea that helo crews, untrained in shipboard landings should make their first attempt at a deck landing in an emergency situation, 200 miles out. They'll get more from the experience. I also agree that its never a good idea to use the right/best available resources to get tha job done safely and successfully. The victim isn't bothered how long it takes to get to hospital.

                    Good stuff, keep it coming .......

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by johnny no stars View Post
                      RGJ


                      Oh and as someone else rightly pointed out, it was Queen's men saving Queen's men.
                      I highly doubt this had anything to do with it. We don't know what was discussed between MRCC Falmouth & the ICG.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by johnny no stars View Post
                        Well, first off, the range of operation of the irish coast guard extends to 200 miles out. This was farther out than that.
                        Johnny (or is it Joanne?!) you just said it yourself - the Irish SAR is only good for 200 miles so it IS irrelevant what they were doing at the time as it was beyond their coverage anyhow - what were they supposed to do if they were not on task at the time - fly alongside the RAF chopper for the first 200 miles then turn back?

                        but i'm on your side when it comes to supporting the SAR - ours is also suffering cut backs which is not acceptable as they are virtually our 4th emergency service and do an absolutely amazing job.

                        maybe the RAF or UK Coast Guard and the Irish DF or Irish Coast Guard could come to some arrangement and form a 'British Isles SAR'??? i'm not knowledgeable enough on this subject to comment properly on this where others in here will be but it's daft that a RAF SAR chopper flies over an Irish SAR base (not literally) to respond to an incident over 200miles away and therefore beyond the limits of the Irish SAR.

                        i'm not knocking the Irish Coast Guard or any coast guard - they are unsung heroes and deserve more support, a lot more support - on both sides of the Irish Sea.
                        RGJ

                        ...Once a Rifleman - Always a Rifleman... Celer et Audax

                        The Rifles

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by pmtts View Post
                          I highly doubt this had anything to do with it. We don't know what was discussed between MRCC Falmouth & the ICG.
                          So do I. Just sayin is all. Besides, the RAF would be trained to do these things as it's within the scope of what they, as RAF, need to do (I've phrased that really badly but I'm an egineering student not an arts student so I'm very sorry and hope you get the gist ) whereas it would be unusual enough for the Irish coast guard to be landing on a ship that far out in poor conditions.
                          Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
                          Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
                          Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
                          Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Orion View Post
                            Hats off to the Sea King crew. I hope this gets wider publicity in the UK because the SAR station in my neck of the woods RAF Boulmer has just had its operations cut to daylight hours only. The excuse in the local press is crew availability but I guess it’s more about winding down the service. Non military SAR is/was a big part of the service.



                            The ships website says the on board helo is a CH-124 Sea King an ASW variant. Probably a lot of kit on board and not much room inside for a stretcher/casualty.




                            Worth repeating - applies to all SAR crews.
                            Canook Sea Kings are famously(and in many cases Terminally) unreliable. They are in the process of phasing them out(since 2001).
                            Casualty would have a better chance surviving the wait.


                            Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              anyhow, wasn't there a similar incident recently where not only could the Irish SAR not get to the casualty, the RAF SAR didn't have the range either and a US Pavehawk based in the UK had to come to the rescue?

                              the Irish and the British were caught short - another argument for investing in SAR as the US Pavehawks may not always be available from the UK.
                              RGJ

                              ...Once a Rifleman - Always a Rifleman... Celer et Audax

                              The Rifles

                              Comment

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