Well done to the pilot and his crew.
A cliff rescue 'without placing anyone at risk'?
I think not - pulling three scared and tired people up a cliff most
definitely incurs risk, both to the rescue team and to the survivors.
The police helicopter was the best means to do the job, it was available to do the job, it was done safely and that's it.
Why, in UK, do we have this public hand wringing and neck stretching every time a helicopter is used for what it was best designed for, for goodness' sake?
We used to use helicopters to deliver passengers in a similar manner to this - one wheel landings on a rock, et al.