S.Atlantic : Dawn Rescue by RAF Search and Rescue Team
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Juanita Brock) 29.07.2004 (Article Archived on 12.08.2004)

A 21 year old sailor is now recovering in Stanley Hospital following a life-saving, dawn rescue by the Mount Pleasant based RAF Search and Rescue Team from 78 Squadron.

Photo (c) Crown Copyright - Three of the crew, Master Air Crewman Duncan Tripp, Flt. Lt. Steve Johnson andLt. Brew Brooman with 78 Squadron's Tiger Mascot.

DAWN RESCUE BY RAF SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM

Three of the crew and Tiger, too.

A 21 year old sailor is now recovering in Stanley Hospital following a life-saving, dawn rescue by the Mount Pleasant based RAF Search and Rescue Team from 78 Squadron.  Responding to a call-out at 0430hrs, Tuesday morning (27 Jul 04), the crew rushed to the 'Kalahari' fishing vessel situated 80 nautical miles south of Stanley to rescue the man who was suffering from acute abdominal pains.

The team consisted of Flight Lieutenant Steve Johnson, the Captain of the Sea King helicopter and his co-pilot, Lieutenant 'Brew' Brooman, a Royal Navy pilot currently on a two year exchange with the RAF.  On the winch was Master Air crewman Duncan Tripp, the winch man and RAF doctor, Squadron Leader Mark Williams accompanied the team to provide medical support. 

The winds were strong and the sea state rough so the team faced the challenge of extracting the casualty from a rocking vessel whilst battling against the harsh elements common to a winter's day in the South Atlantic.  Fortunately the rescue was a smooth and successful operation and the sailor was quickly winched aboard the Sea King helicopter and whisked back to Stanley Hospital.  Shortly afterwards, the casualty was in the operating theatre having his appendix removed.

Flight Lieutenant Steve Johnson said "following the doctor's recommendation to rescue the sailor by helicopter, we responded to the request and were pleased to discover that our efforts had resulted in a timely operation being performed on the casualty at Stanley hospital which probably saved the young man's life".

The young man, who is believed to have been on one of his first fishing trips, was found to be in need of some further medical attention as he was also suffering from a broken finger which had become infected following an earlier accident on board his fishing vessel.  Captain Emma Smith from the Joint Operations Centre at MPA was on duty when the call for assistance came through.  She said “the SAR crew carried out a very swift and successful rescue operation.  It began with a message in broken English from a crew member aboard the Kalahari with very intermittent communication and materialised very quickly into a life-saving situation.”

By strange co-incidence, the same afternoon, the crew were called to a second incident in the area of Teal Inlet.  The inflatable RIB from HMS Leeds Castle was carrying out some training when it suffered engine problems.  Assistance was requested as the strong winds threatened to blow the small boat onto rocks.  The SAR crew safely transferred all sailors aboard the stricken craft back to HMS Leeds Castle and a second RIB was deployed to tow the first craft back to the ship for repair. 

 Capt. Jill Hamlin  MPA Media Ops.