Naval fliers plucked a stricken Norwegian fisherman from the rocks in sub-zero temperatures in a dramatic rescue. A Sea King from the Commando Helicopter Force broke off a training mission inside the Arctic Circle to find and save the man whose boat had hit rocks near the northern city of Tromsø.
The crew of a Commando Helicopter Force Sea King used night-vision goggles to find the Norwegian whose boat had hit rocks in a fjord near Tromsø.
The Sea King was in northern Norway for the Clockwork exercise, used by the Yeovilton-based fliers and ground crew as training for flying and maintaining helicopters in the harshest environment imaginable.
Each winter a detachment from CHF – who provide aerial support for the Royal Marines around the globe – decamps to the Royal Norwegian Air Force Base at Bardufoss, 160 miles inside the Arctic Circle – and where temperatures at this time of year regularly plummet to -30˚C.
The helicopter of aircraft commander Lt Cdr Neil Davidson , pilot Lt David Inglis , winchman C/Sgt Shane Night RM and medic/ambulance technician Cpl Mark Haffenden was on a training sortie when it picked up an SOS from the Norwegians: a lone fisherman had run aground in his boat.
Isolated in a fjord, with temperatures below -10˚C (14˚F), conditions made a rescue of the shipwrecked mariner by sea extremely hazardous.
The Commanding Officer of the CHF detachment in Norway, Maj David West RM , put together a rescue plan to save the fisherman who was suffering from the effects of the extreme Arctic weather.
Within minutes Royal Navy personnel at their base were co-ordinating the rescue operation alongside colleagues in the Norwegian Rescue Coordination Centre, while Lt Cdr Davidson and his crew made ready for the rescue.
With the aid of night-vision goggles they made short work of the 55-mile transit, arriving on scene within an hour of the initial contact – a remarkable achievement.
The stricken vessel was swiftly located approximately five miles from the coast; it was clearly damaged and was listing heavily.
Luckily the owner had managed to scramble on to the rock after crashing ashore.
The nine-tonne helicopter, flown by Lt Inglis, was skilfully manoeuvred close to the rocks ensuring the down wash from the Sea King Mk4 situation did not aggravate the situation.
Cpl Haffenden was then lowered by C/Sgt Night alongside the fisherman who was then winched into the safety of the aircraft. Once onboard the grateful fisherman was flown to Tromsø airport.
“This is not the first time that CHF aircraft have been involved in a search and rescue mission in Norway and it was great to see how both aircrew and ground crew quickly and professionally reacted to the situation,” said Lt Cdr Davidson.
“The manner in which everyone worked together was very impressive and the incident enhanced the excellent relationship that CHF has with the Norwegian military and civilian authorities. As always we were just glad to be in the right place at the right time.”
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , February 02, 2012; Image: royalnavy