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CHC Group, with an office in Richmond, B.C., has announced that a pilot and aircrew of Rescue 651 have been recognized with a Commendation Award at the National SAR (NATSAR) Awards in Canberra, Australia.
This award commends the CHC Helicopter’s pilot and aircrew, along with a St. John Ambulance paramedic, for the rescue of a 27-year-old man with a broken leg off the vessel ‘Fatal Attraction’ near Israelite Bay, Western Australia on Nov. 6, 2016.
In high winds and heavy swell, pilot, Craig Bowman; aircrew, Garth Fitzgerald; and critical care paramedic, Ben Harris, retrieved the injured fisherman using a winch transfer from the vessel–which was off the southern coast of Western Australia, around 500 miles from the crew’s Jandakot base in Perth, Australia.
The crew–who are part of the team that operate Western Australia’s rescue helicopter service on behalf of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services–were tasked with the rescue just after 2:30 p.m. on the afternoon of Nov. 6, and they reached the vessel at 6:30 p.m.
The crew had about 10 minutes before last light to winch Harris onto the vessel, splint the injured man’s leg and winch Harris and the patient back onto the Bell 412 helicopter.
With refuel ground support assistance from Esperance Volunteer Marine Service and SES volunteers and DFES personnel, RAC rescue helicopter 651 then flew with night vision imaging system to get the man back to Esperance. From there, they transferred him to a Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft for the transfer to Royal Perth Hospital.
“We are thrilled that our dedicated and experienced crew, in conjunction with St. John Ambulance, have been recognized with a national award from NATSAR Council,” said Vincent D’Rozario, regional director of CHC Asia Pacific.
“Not a day goes by when there aren’t incredible SAR operations all over the world that fly under the radar. Our crews have saved so many lives, and we are thankful to the NATSAR Council for holding these awards to acknowledge the terrific work that is done by search and rescue teams every day.”
