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On 29th October 2003, the crew of the Duty Search and Rescue Sea King aircraft, ‘Rescue 193’, was tasked to assist a single handed yacht 80nm South West of Culdrose. A lone yachtsman was reporting neck and spinal injuries after a fall and was requesting immediate evacuation. The weather on scene suggested Sea State 8 with significant swell and therefore the crew, led by Lt Claire Donegan (pilot), elected to take a second Aircrewman as well as the duty medic. Petty Officer Aircrewman (POACMN) Rigg volunteered to join the crew as the additional Aircrewman.

As the aircraft launched, Falmouth Coast Guard also called out the St Mary's lifeboat. On transit to the scene it was decided that Leading Aircrewman (LACMN) Hatch would be transferred first to the yacht to assess the casualty, followed by POACMN Rigg and the stretcher, using a ‘hi line’ transfer. Once the casualty was placed in the stretcher, he would be hi lined back to the aircraft, with POACMN Rigg and LACMN Hatch transferring as a pair on completion.

On arrival, the crew was presented with a small 32 foot yacht which was beam-on to the wind with all sails stowed and moving significantly in the very large 40 foot swell. After conducting a reconnaissance, it was apparent that the vessel had only a very small area that could be used for winching and the additional hazard of metal halyards running up to the mast. Given the prevailing conditions, the vessel’s motion and the very tight winching area, Lt Donegan very skilfully brought the aircraft to a downwind hover at 60 feet. From this position, the crew elected to lower LACMN Hatch on the winch cable as there was no one on deck to tend a hi line.

The size of the sea and the small deck area of the yacht meant Lt Donegan lost visual references on each attempt to transfer the aircrewman. LACMN Hatch was lowered to a safe height above the sea and the aircraft ran in. He eventually managed to grab one of the halyards approximately seven feet above the deck. Lt Dingley lowered the winch cable fully and LACMN Hatch slid down the halyard and onto the wildly pitching deck. LACMN Hatch then went below to assess the casualty who was located in a very small area just below deck. Despite immediately suffering from acute seasickness, and between periods of vomiting, LACMN Hatch managed to place the casualty in a safe body position and reassure him of his safety. He then went back on deck to gather a hi line passed to him. The excessive sea state meant that he was in danger of being thrown from the boat and he had to tie himself to the boat and continued to tend the hi line in that manner.

An attempt was then made to transfer POACMN Rigg to the deck. During this operation a squall passed over, significantly increasing the wind, decreasing the visibility and resulting in POACMN Rigg swinging wildly below the aircraft. As the freeboard of the yacht was only two feet above sea level, POACMN Rigg was, by necessity, lowered to a position only just above the water to enable the transfer to be carried out. With Lt Dingley operating the winch and LACMN Hatch tending the hi line, POACMN Rigg managed to get one hand onto the deck when a huge swell broke over the yacht, completely submerging him. Lt Dingley immediately lowered the winch cable at maximum speed to prevent any excessive strain on the cable. Once clear of the water, a second violent swing developed, forcing Lt Dingley to dip POACMN Rigg in the water in order to dampen the swing. POACMN Rigg was visibly shaken and so he was recovered to the aircraft to check his condition. He was given every opportunity to remain in the aircraft after his experiences, however, in his normal gregarious manner, he elected to attempt a further transfer. Despite a large winch swing, due to the severe swell and wind, Lt Donegan was again able to maintain the aircraft in a stable hover long enough to transfer POACMN Rigg successfully onto the deck.

With both aircrewmen on deck an attempt was made to get the stretcher down onto the boat. This caused the hi line to part and so another hi line was deployed. With this in hand on deck, the stretcher was successfully lowered, where it was secured to the deck, although it was dangling over either side. Despite the severe movement of the boat, with both aircrewmen having to secure themselves to the yacht, LACMN Hatch and POACMN Rigg were able to get a spinal board down to the casualty and place him on it. However, due to the lack of room, he could not be placed on the stretcher inside the boat and the two aircrewmen were unable to carry him to the upper deck. They therefore made him as comfortable as possible within the confines of the yacht.

With the St Mary's lifeboat having 25 minutes to run by this time, the crew decided that it was safer for both aircrewmen and the casualty to remain on the yacht and await assistance from the lifeboat. On arrival, the lifeboat managed to transfer two RNLI personnel and a stretcher to the yacht despite darkness having fallen. Between the four they managed to get the casualty on deck and into the stretcher and then successfully transferred onto the lifeboat during a lee provided by ‘MV Okeanis’ which positioned itself upsea.

Lt Donegan then decided, as the Aircraft Commander, that ‘Rescue 193’ should proceed to St Mary's airport for refuel and to await the arrival of the lifeboat. POACMN Rigg and LACMN Hatch remained with the casualty on the lifeboat until it returned to St Mary's, where the three of them were safely transferred to the aircraft and on to hospital.

Throughout the seven and a half hour rescue, the crew demonstrated exceptional courage, faultless professional skill and selfless disregard for their own safety in extremely trying conditions. The aircrew displayed exemplary flying skills and outstanding Crew Resource Management. The Observer, Lt Dingley, showed supreme professional skill ensuring that both aircrewmen were successfully transferred without injury and while maintaining the aircraft's position over a wildly pitching deck. Additionally, and despite great personal discomfort, LACMN Hatch and POACMN Rigg performed superbly. Detached from the aircraft, and in a hostile and alien environment, they were able to stabilise the casualty, reassure him and successfully transfer him to hospital.

For their collective outstanding act of courage and devotion to duty in the course of a sea rescue, the crewmembers of ‘Rescue 193’ are awarded the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award.

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