Tragic loss of Coast Guard helicopter off Atlantic coast

Rescue 116 was based in Dublin Airport so it was a regular sight for us. My brother is RNLI crew and he is really feeling it, as we all are.

Goes without saying that my condolences are with those close to the crew.
 
Very sad. I've been following the search and rescue attempt on Marine Traffic.

I am surprised at how long it has taken to find the wreckage and the one survivor picked up thus far. The accident took place quite close to shore during a S&R operation to help another boat, the helicopter was equipped with AIS and they knew to within a few miles where it was when it went down. Presumably all the crew were fully trained and equipped with the best survival aids available. And yet it went down shortly after 1am and they didn't find the casualty till 8am - makes you realise just how vulnerable we are when we set to sea!
 
Looks like the search is being called off - there is still a helicopter in the air, but the remaining surface vessels are heading into shore.

Possibly not - they came into shore, but have now turned back.
 
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Rescue 118 was 150nm offshore rescuing a medical casualty from an English fishing trawler. Apparently SOPs deployed a second aircraft, R116 to the area to provide cover in the event the offshore S92 had a problem, but sadly something catastrophic happened to 116 before it arrived at the holding pad to refuel and standby on the extreme west coast. Reports suggest none of the aircrafts EPIRBs activated and none of the crews automatic PBLs activated. No news on the sole crew member recovered. R118 returned safely with the English trawler man who was brought to hospital. A sad day again for the rescue services.

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It is too easy to take the service and courage of those rescue aircrews for granted. I hope I shall never have need of them, and will always be mindful of the families and friends left behind.
 
Captain Dara Fitzpatrick. She along with her 3 crew mates are heros. RIP

Captain Fitzpatrick (right of picture)
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sarabande said:
It is too easy to take the service and courage of those rescue aircrews for granted. I hope I shall never have need of them, and will always be mindful of the families and friends left behind.
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Seconded 100%.
Less than a couple of months ago, here in IT an avalanche covered a whole hotel, with a final balance of 29 casualties.
The crew of one of the choppers involved in the rescue operations managed to save some of the souls involved in the tragedy, in spite of the awful weather conditions.
Just a couple of weeks later, that very same chopper crashed during the rescue of a skier, and the accident claimed 6 souls.
This is the sort of folks who still make us all hope that the future of mankind might not be as dark as we could fear from all other daily news... :(
 
It is so sad. Young dedicated men and women, willing to risk all. Can only hope for a miracle of survival
 
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