@JohnR81
One thing is beeing there and seeing someone drown - and may be trying a rescue without knowing what you doing
or
do a training and define do´s and don´ts of the manouvere.
The picture was surely taken with a very long lens and looks more dramatic, as it actually is - even so - it´s still a challenge.
The squadron evaluated its way how to do this over the last ten years, starting of on a lake and by now practicing it ones a year on the river rhine with every pilot.
Due to the training a couple of people could be rescued by now.
Oct 2010, Apr 2009, Feb 2009 (
Spektakuläre Rettung: Hubschrauber zieht Frau aus Fluten des Rheins - SPIEGEL ONLINE)
Greetings Flying Bull