Geardownflaps - technically military SAR's primary role is to rescue downed aircrew but the fact is that 95% of our jobs are rescuing civilians. These rescues are not done as favours - they are our job since the Govt exercises its responsibility to provide SAR in the UK SAR region by using the RAF at 6 flights, the RN at 2 flights and the MCA at 4 flights - all doing the same job.
Not quite sure why a SAR helicopter wasn't called to this one - they can't all have been U/S! As it seems to have turned out, all the brave flying and additional risk was to get a casualty who was only walking wounded - had she needed to be stretcher lifted then winching would have been the safest option rather than trying to carry her 30 feet up a very steep slope and load her into a helicopter balanced on only the rear wheels.
Unfortunately, different ambulance authorities have different ideas about SAR helicopters and when to use them - often to the detriment of the casualty who is left on a cold mountainside whilst a land ambulance crew discovers they can't get on scene, calls an air ambulance who then discovers they can't get the paramedic in or the casualty out and then a SAR aircraft is tasked instead of at the beginning of the process.
In this case it all worked but there would have been significant delay had a stretcher extraction been required.
It's not about willy-waving it's about casualty care.