NSW Ambulance Winching fatality Australia.

[catseye]

NSW Ambulance reporting death of SCAT paramedic in a winching accident at Carrington Falls (near top end of Kangaroo Valley )
further details
Ambulance Service of NSW - Ambulance Service of NSW (http://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/Media/docs/111225tragedy-061ec701-c676-494b-a563-980614a1e0f8-1.PDF)

Sad news.

[fly911]

My most sincere condolences to the family and crew.

[HueyDog]

Very sad news and regrets to family and friends. Are there any details available as to what happened?

[ReverseFlight]

Paramedic swung into ravine and to his death (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/paramedic-swung-into-ravine-and-to-his-death-20111225-1p9lb.html)
It is understood that with the injured canyoner strapped to him, Mr Wilson stepped off a cliff and swung into the ravine so the pair could be winched up into the helicopter.
But they crashed into a cliff face opposite and Mr Wilson was pinned between his patient and the rock wall.
Both men had to be lowered to the ravine floor, police said, where the helicopter team was forced to cut the winch line. It is understood that was done because Mr Wilson was unable to free himself from the wire.
He died soon after from internal injuries.
Condolences.

[ec155]

Very sad news and my sincere condolences to the family and work colleagues.
Such tragic timing. RIP.

[HueyDog]

Condolences for a brave man who was willing to risk his life to save others, and eventually paid the ultimate price.

[MightyGem]

Very sad news. RIP.

[RQTech]

Colleague, friend and good bloke. RIP Mick.

[Jim Tierney]

Vale Mick,

From a former work colleague from his Rockdale days and fellow Flight Paramedic.

RIP

[Dick Smith]

Sincere condolences

Chan 10 news in Sydney are already querying whether canyoning should be allowed.

Does anyone know if consideration is given to carrying the accident victim out by stretcher ? Or if the helicopter can get into position is winching the only consideration?

In the 60's when I was involved in the Federation of Bushwalking Clubs Search and Rescue section helicopters were pretty well un affordable and most were hand carried out by stretcher.

It took longer but was possibly less risky. What do others think?

[Freewheel]

Dick,

It's all about the Golden Hour. More than that I'm not qualified to comment.

As for media questioning the allowability of a given activity, I'm sure you'll be able to find a media outlet questioning whether humans should be allowed to operate in the third dimension so we don't experience a fall.

Let the news cycle pass and we'll remember all of those who give their lives to help others.

[thelummox]

From the extended emergency services and health family in the St George/Sutherland district, our deepest sympathy to Mick's family and colleagues. Like many others here, I had the privilege to have worked along side Mick at many jobs over the years. As has been acknowledged, a true professional, family man and all round good guy. He will be missed by many, and many tears have been shed.....

Dick makes the point about using feet rather than rotors to extract people; My professional opinion is that the widespread availability of aircraft, which are being paid for by government for rescue missions, when taken in context with the time, cost and effort to raise sufficient ground forces for a ground extraction, means inevitiably the response time of aircraft will always win out.

Freewheel made the point of the Golden Hour; I'm sure many of our highly qualified medical breathren will have a better perspective, but given the chance to hoist someone out of a hole and have them at a major trauma centre within an hour, versus a six hour walk out needing 20 or more stretcher bearers and gear ponies... I know what my first preference is...

BUT and it is a very big but, the reliance we have come to place on the availablity of aircraft comes at a high price. Our ability to deal with situations such as these when adverse weather strikes is critically diminished because we are so sure the magic fan will come from the sky to winch out our victim, we, collectively, rarely conduct ground based extractions, and generally speaking do not train particularly for those scenarios. Which is not to say we cannot make it happen but we certainly are not as practiced as we were several decades ago.

The other consideration that seems to be forgotten is the inherant risk in these operations. As the down the wire man, Mick paid the ultimate price in saving others; In this country, we have an exceptional safety record for winch work. That record is a result of regulation, a dedication to training and importantly a strong safety ethos. The risk has always been there however has been managed very well. The fact that we have been so fortunate in general with these missions means that the real risk is often forgotten by those in charge of resource deployment and tasking.

Mick's tragic death should be a reminder for those who take risks on behalf of others in the interests of the wider community, that we should never take each other, and family for granted. We are normally very fortunate that the holes in the Swiss cheese don't line up.

As to the discussion about banning high risk adventure sports; probably best left to another time, other than to say regardless of the risks I would not choose to live in a society where the freedom of adventure, exploration and outdoor travel is restricted. My experience over the years has been the most technically proficient and competent rescue staff, be they aircrewmen, ground rescuers or planners have all pursued these sports and activities and have a real understanding of what is involved. I know that the Mick Wilsons of the world would not want to see such a scenario considered.

Vale Mick.

[Helinut]

How very sad, especially at this time of year. My condolences to this brave man's family and friends. Those who are prepared to put themselves in harm's way to rescue others are a special breed. Our SAR depends on them.

[Jerry Can]

Very sad news. RIP.

[micksar]

Investigators probe paramedic's canyon death - ABC Sydney - Australian Broadcasting Corporation (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-26/investigators-to-interview-paramedic-death-witnesses/3747278/?site=sydney)

Please refer to the link above. Now is not the time for speculation.

My sincere condolences to the family of a fellow SAR aviator.

[Semi Rigid]

What an terrible accident.
Sounds like he prepped the victim into the litter kit and was already to be winched when he slipped or fell or stumbled from a rocky outcrop then swung accross the canyon and smashed into the cliff face absorbing the whole weight of the patient and the litter.
Crew lowered them both to the ground then couldn't get a response to clear to winch so cut the cable.
I reckon I would have gone to hell with it and just steady steady eased them both out and away to a suitable landing site.
Easy to say from my armchair though.

[[email protected]]

Very sad indeed and just goes to show how quickly things can go wrong when winching:sad:

[Shell Management]

Very sad.

A CHC aircraft?

Is such hoisting done as Public Transport in Australia?

[TipCap]

Nice to hear from you Mick (Micksar). As Crab says it just shows how things can go wrong so quickly - no matter how you have trained. My condolences to the family and all associated with these missions

RIP - from a retired SAR Pilot

JohnW

[WinchMedic]

Our thoughts are with his Family at this time. RIP.

[John Eacott]

What a sad thing to happen, and at Christmas seems to make it even more tragic.

Very sad.

A CHC aircraft?

Is such hoisting done as Public Transport in Australia?

Yes, it is a CHC aircraft on contract to the NSW Health Department.

Winching under a specific AOC is quite normal and accepted practice: the AOC would have an Ambulance section which covers winching. Others with winching would be Fire Fighting, Police and SAR; all done to the very highest standard with regular currency checks and practice flights. It is not "Public Transport" in Australia, that would be RPT; we then have Charter and then Aerial Work, all with different criteria.

[topendtorque]

Winching under a specific AOC is quite normal and accepted practice: the AOC would have an Ambulance section which covers winching. Others with winching would be Fire Fighting, Police and SAR; all done to the very highest standard with regular currency checks and practice flights. It is not "Public Transport" in Australia, that would be RPT; we then have Charter and then Aerial Work, all with different criteria.


John it may help SM to understand if you suggest that most of those "sections or functions" sit or fit into our Airwork type of AOC.

That is separate from the carrying of persons for hire or reward as passengers on either a regular route, "RPT" or a random route, "Charter".

POB an airwork flight can only be there as "qualified crew or patients". (intriguing to note that patients are not detailed as such in legislation as far as I know, but of course they cannot be 'passengers' who either pay or are fob on a private op)

We can do private airwork where the entity requiring the work also owns the aircraft.

A lot of that work falls into what is known as a "grey area" with regard to commercial activities as most of those entities are registered for business purposes under the taxation act thus receiving tax relief for all costs, including spare parts for flying machines.

Where charity groups fit is a matter of confusion for me.

Then we have our usual suspects of private operators who illegally seek reward for hire for various activities including charter.

Which is all a rather usual state of affairs for all countries operating under ICAO rules I would assume.

[[email protected]]

John, would currency checks and training include situations as tricky as this winching out of a canyon?

[John Eacott]

John, would currency checks and training include situations as tricky as this winching out of a canyon?

I can't speak for CHC, but those pilots and crew that I know who work for them would certainly be exposed to training and checking to achieve that sort of task. Australian conditions need the standards of response that you in the UK are used to from the military, but not always from the civilian sector. I understand that your restrictions are imposed by the CAA, we are blessed here with a (generally) more responsive and understanding CASA. Not all the time, and not overnight, but there are very high standards achieved by our EMS and Police crews with the oversight of CASA plus a high degree of company standardisation.

[Nigel Osborn]

During my 10 years with Lloyds/CHC we regularly winched out of such locations, so I'm sure this one was no worse than most rescues. I'm also sure a report will be out soon so that we will all know why this tragedy happened.

[topendtorque]

Yup, here's the sad human side of it. met a few of these guys, sometimes at the business end where i have had to call them in, no where near as many as Nigel and John have, but one cannot go away from such encounters without being affected by their zest for life, enthusiasm, professionalism and clear eyed judgement.

I would take care though in believing the details in the gospel according to our ABC.
tet

Black box analysed in paramedic death probe

Posted December 28, 2011 20:52:58
http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/3747886-3x2-340x227.jpg (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-28/kellie-and-mike-wilson/3750064)Photo: Mike Wilson and his wife Kellie. (ABC) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-28/kellie-and-mike-wilson/3750064)
Related Story: Paramedic dies trying to rescue hurt canyoner (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-25/paramedic-dies-in-canyoning-rescue-attempt/3746868)
Related Story: Investigators probe paramedic's canyon death (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-26/investigators-to-interview-paramedic-death-witnesses/3747278)
Related Story: Wife pays tribute to dead paramedic (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-26/wife-pays-tribute-to-dead-paramedic/3747852)

Map: Carrington 2324 (http://maps.google.com/?q=-32.6167,152(Carrington%202324)&z=5)

Investigators expect a preliminary report within 30 days into the death of a paramedic on the New South Wales south coast.
Elite ambulance officer Mike Wilson, 41, was being winched down to an injured canyoner at Carrington Falls near Wollongong on Christmas Eve when he died.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman Stuart Godley says officials are analysing black boxes from the rescue helicopter before releasing their findings.
"The preliminary report will be out within 30 days of the accident and that will have all the preliminary findings so far, and the final report will come out within 12 months," he said.
On Monday Mr Wilson's wife and a paramedic colleague paid tribute to the "inspirational" and "incredibly committed" father of three.
His colleague, Greg Kirk, suggested Mr Wilson's line had to be cut because the helicopter became at risk during the operation.
It is understood Mr Wilson was injured before the winch line was cut and that he fell onto rocks below.
"If the aircraft is under risk then it is part of the policy of the aircraft that the winch cable will be cut," Mr Kirk said.
Mr Wilson had been a paramedic for 15 years and had received awards for his work.

[tolakuma manki]

It is understood Mr Wilson was injured before the winch line was cut and that he fell onto rocks below.
"If the aircraft is under risk then it is part of the policy of the aircraft that the winch cable will be cut," Mr Kirk said.
Is this common to all rescue operations??

[criticalmass]

As an aviator who works out of YWOL where the helicopter in question is based, I would like to express on behalf of all of us in YWOL our deepest condolences to the family, work colleagues, crew-mates and friends of the deceased paramedic.

[[email protected]]

That would be the case in a twin engine helicopter in the event of an engine failure (or similar emergency) that required immediate transition into forward flight. If you have sufficient power to hover OEI then the winchman and casualty can either be winched to the aircraft or placed on the ground.

The problem with this sad accident was probably that, having a severely injured the winchman on the end of the wire (after hitting the side of the gorge), it would have been impossible to effect a cabin entry with the casualty in a stretcher and the winchman unconscious or so badly hurt that he was unable to help. They would have had to get them as close to the ground as possible and then cut the cable - again an unconscious winchman can't unhook himself and the stretcher from the cable.

The winchman's job is the most dangerous but the winch operator's job carries the most responsibility and requires the most skill and need for instant and correct decision-making.

[heliduck]

I haven't trolled the news stories to find a copy of the text, but I heard on the radio that after he was injured between the patient & the rock he was lowered to the ground by the winch operator. Being unresponsive he couldn't be winched up nor could he disconnect himself, so the wire was cut. I hope for the sake of the surviving crew members that this version of events has some truth to it.

[Ascend Charlie]

Having conducted many winch ops myself, I would have considered bringing them as close to the skids as possible, and then tea-bagging them to the nearest spot to put down.

Mind you, in that area, it might have been a bit of cross-country, but at least the survivor would be closer to hospital and the poor crewman could perhaps receive some attention, although it apparently was too late for that.

[Jerry Can]

I appreciate that there has been no finger pointing or wild speculation but as with all these things, we weren't there and can't say with any authority what should have happened as we were not in the situation at that time.

This would be a crew that knew each other well and had flown together a great deal and the decision to do what they did must have been an agonising one to make. Once a report comes out we can all learn from it.

I have an idea what I would have done in the situation as reported but I wasn't there so I'll keep it to myself.

Once again RIP. To all other SAR boys and girls, fly safe.

[topendtorque]

It is understood Mr Wilson was injured before the winch line was cut and that he fell onto rocks below.
"If the aircraft is under risk then it is part of the policy of the aircraft that the winch cable will be cut," Mr Kirk said.

tolakuma manki
Is this common to all rescue operations??


as I was saying, and as most others have also said.


I would take care though in believing the details in the gospel according to our ABC.



The journo is there to sell copy, whether the connotation of the assembled words is mischevious or accidental it still has the potential to unnecessarily cast aspersion on professionals.

[TDK mk2]

I recall visiting the offices of Bristow Helicopters in Stornoway, Lewis when they had the Coastguard contract using S61's. I saw many photos of Billy Deacon, who was lost on the 19th of November 1997 having saved 10 lives from the Green Lily in huge seas. I couldn't even begin to imagine the loss his colleagues suffered that night, not to mention his family and friends. Sadly the colleagues of this man won't have to and I wish them and his family and friends well in the healing process.

[southscat]

Nicely put TDK mk2 (http://www.pprune.org/members/44725-tdk-mk2). As we all come to terms with this terrible situation and the investigations (5 or more) take place I simply say THANK YOU for your well wishes and for not turning this forum into what we refer to as a 'kangaroo court'.
regards
GT

[PPRuNeUser0212]

The latest update. Starts putting a few things together.

Investigation: AO-2011-166 - Operational event - Agusta AW139 helicopter, VH-SYZ, Carrington Falls, New South Wales, 24 December 2011 (http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-166.aspx)

Investigation update 18 January 2012:
On 24 December 2011, an injured canyoner was being retrieved from rugged terrain by helicopter winch. A paramedic was assisting the winch retrieval. During the winching process, the paramedic and the injured man fell some distance and as a result the paramedic was fatally injured. The winch cable was subsequently cut.
The ATSB investigation team completed its examination of the helicopter and winch and a number of interviews with the involved crew and canyoners on 27 December 2011. In addition, the helicopter's flight data and cockpit voice recorders, or 'black boxes' were recovered from the aircraft and taken to the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra for download. That download was successful and information covering the period of the winching accident was recovered from both recorders.
The investigation has established that there was no anomaly with the helicopter or its winch with the potential to have contributed to the accident. In addition, it has been determined that the winch cable was manually severed by the crew following the accident. That action was taken in order for the helicopter to depart the accident site and return to its base.
The investigation is continuing and will include the examination of a number of recovered components including the ropes and other equipment used during the attempted rescue and the analysis of additional recorded information and images. The investigation will also examine the planning and conduct of the winching operation, together with the qualifications and experience of the involved personnel and the operator's policy and procedures as they applied to the rescue.
The information contained in this web-only report is released in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003 and is derived from the initial investigation of the occurrence. Readers are cautioned that new evidence will become available as the investigation progresses that will enhance the ATSB's understanding of the accident as outlined in this preliminary update. As such, no analysis or findings are included in this report.

[That lights normal!]

I believe there has been a recent update (Sep 05th 2012), but I can't find it.
Anyone?

TLN

[John Eacott]

Final report (http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-166.aspx) from the ATSB.

What happened
On 24 December 2011 an Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter departed Bankstown Airport in response to an emergency personal locator beacon in the Budderoo National Park, about 16 km west-south-west of Wollongong Airport, New South Wales. On board the helicopter were a pilot, an air crewman, two paramedics and a doctor.
On locating the emergency beacon, the crew identified a seriously injured person on a rock ledge near the bottom of a waterfall. They assessed that it would not be possible to winch emergency personnel directly to the patient. In response, the crew landed at a nearby clear area and devised a plan to access and retrieve the patient. During the retrieval, the patient and one of the paramedics hit rocks at the base of the waterfall. The paramedic died from the impact. The patient was subsequently transported to hospital for treatment.

What the ATSB found
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) identified that, due to reduced light, the paramedic and patient were accidentally pulled from the rock ledge as the helicopter was manoeuvred in preparation to lift them out using its winch.
The ATSB also identified several safety issues relating to training and use of the helicopter’s lighting and radios. A number of organisational issues that could adversely influence the way crews act in similar circumstances were also identified.

What has been done as a result
In response to this accident, the Ambulance Service of New South Wales and the helicopter operator took safety action in respect of the operating scope applied to retrieval operations and procedures used by helicopter emergency crews. In addition, paramedics, in their role as ambulance rescue crewmen, are now required to conduct annual night winching currency training. Finally, proactive safety action was taken by these parties in the areas of general crew training and operational risk assessment.

Safety message
This accident highlights the dangers associated with modifying established procedures in order to complete a difficult, and potentially not previously experienced, rescue task. Specifically, the use of procedures that are neither documented nor trained for by crews makes it difficult to identify hazards and manage the related risks.

[[email protected]]

It is sad that someone had to die in order to make this organisation realise that proper training, correct equipment and realistic currency are the important (but expensive) elements required for safe SAR operations.

Winching can go from easy-peasy to f**k-me in a second and if you have never bothered to consider the potential hazards involved (especially when deviating from SOPs) then it will evantually come and bite you on the a*se.