Helicopter rescue story

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i read the MOB story of aan MOB in June who was retrieved in five minutes. But the coastguard "informed us" (it says) they were scrambling a helicopter to winch him off the boat, and did so.

Given the helicopter winching isn't exactly a walk in the park - would agree to have someone winched off like this? Do you have any sayso? ( i think you do). I went swimming in solent late june - cold but no need for helicopter winches really...
 
Hi all
there is a risk of secondary drowning, therefore its always a good idea to get checked out by a doctor maybe this was the reson for the helicopter lift.
 
When in doubt, I think they tend to winch them off.

Without disclosing too much detail, and therefore imperilling my Operator's license, I was listening to the VHF traffic surrounding a helicopter shout last summer and, although there was no compulsion about it, the Coastguard were plainly trying to convince a sceptical skipper that they should winch off someone who had received a bang on the head - presumably from a boom - but who was apparently OK (I think the yacht had originally called up to ask what symptoms to look out for in the aftermath of a head injury).

Though I suppose winching off is a potentially tricky situation, it is a pretty routine operation for the Air/Sea Rescue guys and practice makes perfect, eh?
 
Another helicopter rescue story

One of my Powerboat pals was winched off 2 weeks ago. He has a new Sealine (42?) and was en route to Dublin, wind 2-3, when a freak wave hit from behind and spun the boat round - he took a nasty blow to the head. As there was just him and his son (8) on board he called Dublin CG to advise and ask for some help steering the boat in. They sent out chopper who winched him and son to hospital and left boat floating about for the Irish RNLI to bring in.

All ended up OK in the end - but the freak wave has not yet been fully explained it would appear, 11 other boats in the vicinity called for help and large saily boat damaged it's mast.

The latest thinking from the locals is that a submarine was off patch and had been doing some u/w firing - scary /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Read the yacht's report (Electron) on www.jog.org.uk under 4th June Weymouth.

Poor guy went over the side in a pretty horrible manner. Also just goes to show how only 5 minutes can affect a person in certain conditions.




Claire
 
Very interesting point about keeping the port quarter clear of clutter.

Mine's clear - more by good luck than good judgement /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif - but I've seen a lot of GPS & navtex antennae there on other boats. Not too much of a problem to the winchee, but definitely at risk of a good kick.
 
Any one who tries winching arround the ass end of my boat is in the poo. It not only has back stays but a wind generator with a 1.5meter blade then theres the Radar and various other bits like the Windpilot. Screw the helicopter I dont trust them anyway.
 
When looking at the photos (Hamo Thorneycroft site) of the race, it appears that the boat was not carrying a Danbuoy which, in the position of the lifebouy, would have had the same effect as an aerial.

Will swop mine over now /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Thought you might want to know that in the event of a skipper asking for medical advise HMCG will patch the skipper through to a doctor at either Aberdeen Royal Infirmary or Queen Alex Hospital Portsmouth. These doctors are trained to give advise to ships at sea and are used to talking via a radio. Once advise is given to the skipper the doctor will then discuss the situation with the coastguard. It is normally at the doctors recomendation that casualties are taken off. Of course if the situation is serious and warrants an immediate evacuation then this will happen.
Dave
 
That about sums it up Dave.

The Ops Room and SMC will take the decision based on the information it gets, the best analysis of info that is available on board the casualty vessel will come from the Doctor and the Winchman.

For a MOB offshore the helo would normally be tasked (unless unavailable) so the helo was most likely already tasked and on the way. Why turn it back if the winchman can drop in and make a thorough professional assessment, he is after all a highly trained paramedic and there is a lot of kit on the helo itself. It is not a knee jerk reaction and too costly for it to become one.

There is the trauma of a helo extraction to consider, but me, if it was someone unwell on my boat I would take the winchman's advice. Every time. (And a winch into a helo is not that bad - really.)
David
 
Well Das Boot, I hope I don't have the pleasure of sailing aboard your boat, or is your response just Forum banter? I don't get your humour though. I pray you have safe sailing, and don't have to call upon the services of a helicopter.
I was the person on board that filed the report, and I'm glad that a lot of people on the forum got a positive reaction to it. A point of fact - our yacht was not in any of the photographs. She is now safely in Santander, having had a thrilling race surfing across Biscay in 30+ kts NW
 
welcome to the forum - interesting name by the way do you always feel you get the cold watches on board?

if you click on a users name their profile comes up, and the option to view all thier posts (rather than seach threads for their contribution). I mention this becase you can 'position' a users contribution this way. fwiw I think his contribution here reflects his wider (stated) views but not, as you have seen, that of many.

enjoy your boating
 
[ QUOTE ]
Any one who tries winching arround the ass end of my boat is in the poo. It not only has back stays but a wind generator with a 1.5meter blade then theres the Radar and various other bits like the Windpilot. Screw the helicopter I dont trust them anyway.

[/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ]
Yes I have woken to the error of my ways I will clear the stern just so I can be rescued by a bloody helicopter..I think not...what a load of tosh.

[/ QUOTE ] I am just trying to work out why your response makes me upset and angry.

Ah yes, I remember now, some of my friends are the crew of the helicopters that go and rescue people and some of these helicopters I have flown in myself in the course of my duties. When we put to sea sometimes things happen that are out of our control and sometimes people die. Sometimes there are people willing to risk their lives to try and save some of those people....

I am all for being self reliant and not calling on the emergency services, but when things go badly wrong I am proud to be part of an organisation that helps others when they are in need. Did you know that they are so professional that they even practice for when they are asked to rescue people off boats with bits sticking out the back...

When people make sarcastic comments about people who risk their lives to help others it makes me very angry.

Still as a friend of mine once said when I took issue with someone, 'Forget it, he condemns himself with his own words.'

Nuff said
 
been there, seen it, done it......... I would..... Do It!!!!!! if anyones still interested /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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