JHC let down UK public

[Spot 4]

ITV Teletext states:

SWIMMER CRITICAL AFTER RESCUE

A swimmer is in a critical condition after he was rescued by an Irish Army helicopter near Portstewart harbour.

The Irish Army search and rescue helicopter was called to rescue the barely conscious man who had been knocked against cliffs by huge waves.

He was flown to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry where he is being treated for suspected head injuries.

This should have stated:

RAF Puma rescues British citizen off the British coast!! There must be 30+ helicopters in Northern Ireland and the IAC did the job and get the medals. Does the RAF not do winching any more? Portstewart is not even a border town, and this UK taxpayer was let down by their own. Nevertheless, thanks is due to the Dauphan? crew whose international exploits are appreciated.

[mutleyfour]

Bloody Hell spot 4!

Firstly, do you think that there is an aircraft specifically roled in NI for this sort of thing?

Secondly, Whats wrong with a little cross border co-operation?

Finally it is worth noting that the wessex left service a little while ago and as far as Im aware there are no other aircraft capable of winching in service in the province.

[jockspice]

Agree with mutley on this one. Since there are no longer any junglies in theatre either, except for a once a year visit, there are no oggin winchers for this sort of thing.
Good effort by the IAC!

[leonardodewinchy]

well people pumas are now fitted with winches so could have been the boys on 230

[Tiger_mate]

The Puma can and does winch but is not equipped for salt water ops in the way that the Wessex was. In Belize it was a standard fit and also I believe in the Balkans.

SAR coverage of the NI coastline is nominally provided by an RN Sea King from Prestwick. International SAR co-operation is to be encouraged and I believe it not unknown for a Norwegian S61 to attend a `downwind` job near Scotland to then continue onto Scotland to a hospital.

I would be interested to know if the IAC cab was local(ish) anyway or called from way on south, (Not that it makes any difference). Of course the navy SAR boys could have been medal hunting elsewhere.

[seafuryfan]

Sorry all, it's not quite that simple.

Think training, aircraft role fit, money, and spares.

If you want the official reply ask JHC.

[MarkD]

give it a rest lads. We dawn sarf are more than accustomed to RAF Sea Kings from Wales doing our donkey work [and USAF helos for really long range stuff on occasion]. Neighbours help each other out, as it should be.

[jockspice]

tiger_mate
The Prestwick boys were probably saving yet another tourist trying to climb Ben Nevis in shorts and flip-flops!:=

[Avoiding Action]

Suspect the Dauphin came from their det at Finner Camp, just outside Ballyshannon, in Donegal. That's about 90nm X-country...
I suppose anyone out there from the ARCC could shed some light on this?
Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a bit of reciprocity going on - surely the UK SAR force complete a significant number of rescues in Irish airspace over the course of 12 months...

[Tiger_mate]

I checked teletext which later stated that the helicopter was there anyway for a `demonstration`. Pretty good demo methinks:ok:

[left one o clock]

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/sarstats.html (http://)

[MarkD]

/me is puzzled...

a "demonstration" of what exactly? Dauphin is by no means a new aircraft... now if we had the S-92s the Government screwed procurement of...

[sarboy w****r]

SAR cover for NI was formally given to Prestwick and Valley in Feb 2002. A role demo was flown by ac from Prestwick and Valley at Bangor NI to mark the occasion on 13 Feb 02. Depending on other assets in theatre (if suitably kitted out) and the nature of the job, other ac may be called.

'Persons in the water' receives the quickest response of any non-ejectee emergency, and is usually allocated to the asset able to respond and get to the scene in the shortest period of time. It would appear that in this case it was the Dauphin. From the sounds of things the person was winched out of the water alive, so who actually made the rescue is completely irrelevant.

I've been on quite a few jobs where the nearest and/or most suitable asset has not been called out, and people have died as a result. And all because people didn't want to be seen to have to ask for help, or admit to the rest of the world that their particular asset/team etc was not able to deal with things. Parochial attitudes in SAR are definitely not cool!

So Spot 4, just chill and give thanks that the casualty was recovered from the water alive. Next time it might be you, a member of your family or a mate. I'm sure that you'd rather an Irish Dauphin got to them whilst still alive, than have a Brit asset recover their body 10 mins later. Just a reminder about survival times - 10 deg C equals about an hour to death for someone without immersion suit/wetsuit. Not long at all...

[DrSyn]

I am not entirely impressed by some of the posts on this thread. Perhaps we could summarise by saying, "Thank you IAC for a timely and professional job."

[Spot 4]

Firstly, do you think that there is an aircraft specifically roled in NI for this sort of thing?

For many years there was! ..and with the Mourne mountains and extensive coastline there was a regular customer base! The helicopters are still there and are capable of maintaining that service. The PR benefits must be significant in a land where the helicopter is seen by many as aggresive intrusion. Balance the bad with tales of good. If the Antrim Princess incident was repeated the SH force of NI would stand looking helpless? Thats not very good now is it! "Seacat sinks killing lots whilst Puma provides good TV platform", not very far fetched this scenario. Could the Puma extract a heart attack victim from a vessel, because T_M that is not a salt water incident, and even if it was, which is more important, an engineer washing a floor or a human life. Remember the Golden Hour that all first aid lessons preach.

"Secondly, Whats wrong with a little cross border co-operation
Nothing, and my remarks were not intended to be offensive to the IAC, apologies if taken that way. If you are going to promote cross border missions, than get the IAC visiting the RAF at EGAA, for I think I am right in saying that this has never happened. Cynically speaking, I cannot forsee an IAC helicopter picking up troops in NI.

Anyone from NI know if the helicopters have an `Aid to civil power` commitment that includes Eire?

[MarkD]

Spot 4

some around the border claim UK helicopters have been flying in Irish airspace for years :D :D

Now if only the (Irish) Government would stop faffing about and pony up for owned SAR/medium lift helos rather than hiring in S-61s...