Heliport
3rd Nov 2006, 08:05
An RAF search and rescue crew from RAF Valley have received a Vodafone Life Savers Award for saving the lives of five yachtsmen after their boat began sinking in the Irish Sea.
Flight Lieutenants Dave Kenyon, Duncan Tough, and Dave Spain along with Sergeant Andy Elwood, all from 'C' Flight 22 Squadron, were nominated for the award by colleagues at RAF Valley.
The crew attended the Awards event at London's Café Royal on Wednesday. Nick Read, Vodafone UK CEO said: "The entries this year were truly inspiring and selecting just 10 National Life savers from so many deserving stories was an extremely tough task. However, this story shone out as a particularly inspiring example of the brave actions carried out by so many men and women in our emergency services, whose everyday work and dedication we all too often take for granted. Without the brave efforts of 'C' Flight 22 Squadron that day, the outcome would most certainly have been one of tragedy with five lives being lost."
When the yacht 'Quay Three' found herself adrift in the Irish Sea in May following an engine failure the conditions could not have been worse. The small craft alternately surfed down the huge waves, then came to a virtual standstill as it ploughed into the bottom of each trough.
In gale force winds and enormous seas the RAF's search and Rescue Organisation answered the mayday call from the yacht, situated 50 miles west of Ireland, and 'Rescue 122' deployed to the scene.
Because of the height of the yacht's mast, the helicopter had to maintain a higher than normal hover, which meant the pilot could not see the boat. Radar and winch operator Dave Spain then controlled the aircraft from his position at the cabin door, using an auxiliary controller which temporarily takes over the flying of the helicopter during critical phases of a rescue.
The team made several efforts to lower a wire rope, or line, to the stricken yacht but the unpredictable motion of the boat made this extremely difficult and they lost three lines in the process. With only one line left it became clear that the only solution was to send a man down.
Sgt Andy Elwood volunteered to be winched directly onto the yacht. Two attempts were foiled by the huge seas, the waves breaking over the decks and the numerous lines and stays cluttering the available landing area, but eventually Andy made it. He was able to successfully attach a line which helped Dave Spain maintain the position of the helicopter and they could then begin to evacuate the crew.
The crew were all suffering badly from seasickness and needed a
considerable amount of help. Organising the lifts in spite of the constant risk of being swept overboard by the relentless waves, Andy Elwood remained on board to ensure that all five crewmembers were winched to safety.
Flight Lieutenants Dave Kenyon, Duncan Tough, and Dave Spain along with Sergeant Andy Elwood, all from 'C' Flight 22 Squadron, were nominated for the award by colleagues at RAF Valley.
The crew attended the Awards event at London's Café Royal on Wednesday. Nick Read, Vodafone UK CEO said: "The entries this year were truly inspiring and selecting just 10 National Life savers from so many deserving stories was an extremely tough task. However, this story shone out as a particularly inspiring example of the brave actions carried out by so many men and women in our emergency services, whose everyday work and dedication we all too often take for granted. Without the brave efforts of 'C' Flight 22 Squadron that day, the outcome would most certainly have been one of tragedy with five lives being lost."
When the yacht 'Quay Three' found herself adrift in the Irish Sea in May following an engine failure the conditions could not have been worse. The small craft alternately surfed down the huge waves, then came to a virtual standstill as it ploughed into the bottom of each trough.
In gale force winds and enormous seas the RAF's search and Rescue Organisation answered the mayday call from the yacht, situated 50 miles west of Ireland, and 'Rescue 122' deployed to the scene.
Because of the height of the yacht's mast, the helicopter had to maintain a higher than normal hover, which meant the pilot could not see the boat. Radar and winch operator Dave Spain then controlled the aircraft from his position at the cabin door, using an auxiliary controller which temporarily takes over the flying of the helicopter during critical phases of a rescue.
The team made several efforts to lower a wire rope, or line, to the stricken yacht but the unpredictable motion of the boat made this extremely difficult and they lost three lines in the process. With only one line left it became clear that the only solution was to send a man down.
Sgt Andy Elwood volunteered to be winched directly onto the yacht. Two attempts were foiled by the huge seas, the waves breaking over the decks and the numerous lines and stays cluttering the available landing area, but eventually Andy made it. He was able to successfully attach a line which helped Dave Spain maintain the position of the helicopter and they could then begin to evacuate the crew.
The crew were all suffering badly from seasickness and needed a
considerable amount of help. Organising the lifts in spite of the constant risk of being swept overboard by the relentless waves, Andy Elwood remained on board to ensure that all five crewmembers were winched to safety.