Search and Rescue Hero Squad

Coming up on Hero Squad -

six wannabe heroes...

..facing the worst nature can throw at them.

There's a new emergency crew in town.

I'm Rav Wilding, and this is Hero Squad!

Six ordinary school kids.

Their mission - to learn how to save lives.

But do they have what it takes to become real-life heroes?

In the last instalment of Hero Squad,

our six cadets are joining the illustrious ranks of the RAF

and one of Britain's busiest mountain rescue teams.

In their first rescue with two different emergency services,

they must use all the skills they've learnt

so far on their incredible journey.

Only then will they have earned the right to call themselves heroes.

As they fly at 120mph into the heart of an emergency storm,

there'll be technology, thrills, spills,

and two cadets will become the first ever

Hero Squad helicopter crew members.

The wheels are spinning, the rotors are turning,

someone is in trouble.

It's time for liftoff, cadets - let's go, go, go!

We've had adventure, adrenaline and excitement,

and we're not taking our foot off the gas

until we cross that finish line.

The cadets are here in Snowdonia in North Wales,

and they're about to face a challenge

that's going to push them right to the limit.

And I'm about to spring a very big surprise on them. Follow me.

'I'm joined by Chris Lloyd of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue.'

Morning. How is everyone today?

'Chris will be mentor for some of the cadets,

'but the big surprise I'm about to spring is that

'two Hero Squad members are leaving on a secret assignment.'

So the two people that are going away right here, right now

for that special mission...

is Katy and Kiera.

Well done, you two.

It's time to go. Follow me.

My heart is racing at a thousand miles per hour.

It's a bit different being split up, but we're all good friends

so it doesn't matter who we're with.

I feel really left out now. I'm the only girl left!

I have no idea what we're going to do,

or where we're going, cos we're in the middle of nowhere.

And when he said "secret mission", it's playing on my mind so much.

It sounds like Mission Impossible, so it's quite...

I'm going with Katy and Kiera,

as they set off on their secret mission.

But for the other cadets, their mission will be with

the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team, and their mentor, Chris Lloyd.

Chris has been involved in countless search and rescue missions,

saving lives and keeping people in the mountains safe.

First up, the Hero Squad must find a lost walker.

To do that, they're using a piece of technology

called the Search And Rescue Locator,

or SARLOC.

SARLOC was invented by this member

of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue, Russell Hore.

We're currently parked here...

Andy has taken charge of the control vehicle

and the SARLOC navigation system.

Luci, this is Andy from control. Can you please start heading a bit west?

'Yes, all received, out.'

This cadet has shown his skill with technology,

tools and gadgetry all the way through Hero Squad.

Using radio comms at sea,

sophisticated navigation techniques in the mountains,

and mastering hi-tech cutting tools,

he's used both his brains and his brawn.

Luci, this is Andy from control.

SARLOC uses the signal from a mobile to locate lost people,

and reveal their position on a map.

The estimated distance is about 100 metres.

And via radio, Andy guides the cadets

to the lost walker's location.

You should be able to see the casualty. Over.

We have found the missing man,

and we're just heading over to him now, over.

-Is your name Andy?

-Yeah.

Job done.

40 miles away on the island of Anglesey, I can now reveal

the location for Katy and Kiera's secret assignment.

They're at RAF Valley.

Their most famous crew member is none other than Prince William,

the Duke of Cambridge.

Known here as Flight Lieutenant Wales, he has served as

part of this squadron since 2010.

Katy and Kiera will be under the watchful eye

of their mentor, and Prince William's senior officer.

My name is Squadron Leader Alex Brassington,

and we're going to train you up

on how to conduct search and rescue operations

in one of the RAF's Sea King helicopters.

-How does that sound?

-I'm so excited! This is a dream.

I'm going to wake up in a minute.

Off you go. Enjoy. Good luck.

-Looking forward to it?

-Yeah.

Something tells me they're quite excited about this special mission!

Katy and Kiera are wearing real RAF flying suits,

and helmets specifically designed for helicopter crews.

-Speak into there.

-Hello!

The final piece of clothing

is a flying jacket - and they're good to go.

It's like a privilege to wear it.

It feels amazing wearing it all.

It makes you feel really proud, it's such an honour. Amazing, yeah.

But there's one more standard issue bit of equipment for the cadets.

They're sick bags.

Me and Katy were both the ones

who actually threw up in the boat last time!

Training with the RNLI,

Katy and Kiera both suffered with the motion of the ocean.

Hopefully we won't need them.

Once they're kitted up,

Katy and Kiera get to take a look around the helicopter

they'll be using in tomorrow's rescue.

Tomorrow, Katy will be the winch operator.

She is in charge of the camera and radar systems on the helicopter,

and also operates the winch at the rescue scene.

Kiera will be the winchperson,

who is first on the ground with the casualty.

So on the port side, you've got the thermal imaging camera...

As they train,

Squadron Leader Brassington will be keeping a close eye on them.

They've never even been on board a helicopter before,

never mind flown as RAF crew members. Look at those smiles!

Wait until the other four see this. They're going to be so jealous.

It feels amazing to be sitting inside a helicopter.

It's just completely, like, mind-blowing.

Winch operator Katy is first to be trained,

as Livvy shows her how to operate

the Sea King's thermal imaging camera.

On the left-hand screen we've got the thermal imager,

the camera that we've just been looking at outside,

and on my right-hand screen I've also got the radar.

The camera picks up the heat from a human body,

and helps the crew locate casualties in remote areas.

Your direction...

I'll just show you a little bit of zooming, and then just focus up.

So we've got quite a range of detail on everything as well.

It will be Katy's job to use the camera

to find any possible casualty,

and guide the pilot towards them.

Katy was up first for training here, and that's nothing new.

She's one of the smallest cadets on Hero Squad,

but she's got to be the bravest.

On rescues both overground and underground,

Katy's shown her fearlessness and unbreakable courage.

I arrive back in Snowdonia

just in time for the cadets to practise

putting me into a stretcher.

Follow me.

And once the cadets have found what would be a good landing zone

for a helicopter, it's the end of their last training exercise.

And lower.

OK, cadets. Thank you for that.

Back at RAF Valley,

Katy and Kiera are facing their final training exercise too.

They're learning how to use the winch.

For someone who's just joined the RAF,

it would take nine months just to get to this point.

Katy and Kiera have about two Hero Squad hours to learn what to do.

Going down on the winch is the most dangerous role

in any search and rescue exercise.

The weather can be ferocious,

and it's just the wire between you and a very long drop.

-What would "winch in" be, do we think?

-Winch in...

Katy is controlling the winch,

and Kiera is on the wire, for her very first helicopter rescue...

Come up and go over your shoulders. One that way, one that way.

And then this bit clips across the front.

It is like a big nappy.

..and she's going to be practising

on a strapping, 190cm-tall RAF flight sergeant!

Abseiling...

No pressure, Kiera!

Use good hand signals with the winch operator...

Now, essentially, all you're going to do is winch in...

The winch man has to be brave enough

to go out of the door in a range of conditions

and then he has to be able to keep himself safe,

get himself to the casualty, and more importantly,

keep the casualties safe and get them back up to the aircraft.

They seem to both be doing very well.

The control of the winch is good.

I think our winchman is doing an admirable job

of staying on her feet and getting the simulated casualty

into the straps and back up to the aircraft. So, I'm very impressed.

From what I've seen today, they're doing very well,

and I'm sure we can find a job for them.

That was so much fun!

It feels really weird, though, cos you just see the helicopter

go further and further away.

It was, like, a really good feeling to just be in control.

But I did think it was a bit of an ask

to have a 12 and a 13-year-old who'd never seen a helicopter before.

But I have to say, they did very well.

Back in Snowdonia, mentor Chris and I

are deciding who will be squad leader.

This will be their most difficult rescue yet,

and the squad leader must coordinate

Hero Squad's first ever multi-agency rescue.

By land, by air, by foot,

4 x 4 and helicopter,

it's going to be a huge challenge.

It's a biggie, it's a tough one, I'm not going to lie,

and it's a big role for whoever's going to be the squad leader.

From talking to Chris, we've both decided

that the person that should be squad leader for tomorrow...

is going to be you, Alex.

-Well done.

-Well done.

Well done, Alex.

Alex will lead the cadets into their last challenge.

Alex has been on an incredible journey on Hero Squad,

both as an individual and as a leader.

He's shown great strength of character, and not only that,

he's shown great physical strength too.

There we go, there we go...

It's Hero Squad rescue day.

Two hikers are deep in the mountains of Snowdonia.

They have reached the summit,

when one of the walkers slips...

Oh, Claire! Claire!

She plummets over the edge of a cliff,

banging her head on the way down.

Paul, please get help! It really hurts!

The Hero Squad casualty is stuck on a ledge.

Her companion cannot reach her, and calls 999.

I need Mountain Rescue...

He's told to reply to a text, and with the help of SARLOC,

the Mountain Rescue cadets now have a lock on his position.

They are 20 miles away,

and must traverse this treacherous terrain as fast as they can.

Can Hero Squad come to the rescue one last time?

It takes the cadets two hours

to journey deep into the mountains in off-road vehicles.

'Squad leader Alex uses SARLOC to calculate that

'the witness is on the slope of a mountain 2km away...'

Get moving...

'..and he sends his foot search team to find him.'

Good luck, guys!

At RAF Valley, Katy and Kiera have started their first day

as part of an RAF search and rescue crew.

They are unaware of the unfolding Hero Squad emergency,

but that is about to change.

The foot search team has found the witness,

and it's not good news.

Do you know what happened?

She went over the edge, and she's cracked her head...

The news that this is a head injury changes everything.

Control, this is Hero Squad One.

He has said that there is a casualty down in the rocks

and she has a head injury.

That's a serious worry now, isn't it, from the first aid side of things?

Look how long it's taken us to get in here.

Especially with that long drive.

If we've got a head injury, we've got serious problems to get her out.

You can now decide if you need a helicopter

to help us get this person out.

Control, this is Hero Squad One.

Can we just ask that we could have a helicopter, please?

The casualty seems to have a head injury

and that could be a serious risk to life, over.

Hearing that, squad leader Alex

puts in an immediate call to RAF Valley.

PHONE RINGS

C Flights...

Hello, I'm Alex from Hero Squad. We're currently on a rescue

and my team-mates need a helicopter...

He's so focussed, he hasn't realised it's Katy and Kiera he's talking to.

Is there any other information? What's happened to her?

They've requested you because she's injured her head.

But with the call logged, and the location confirmed,

it's action stations!

Once we all group together again,

with two different parties coming together,

I think it's going to be a really good final rescue.

Hold onto your helmets!

The rotors are turning, and for the RAF's two newest recruits,

it's time for take-off!

They are being piloted by their mentor,

Squadron Leader Brassington.

Kiera is being monitored by one of the RAF's most decorated winchmen,

Master Aircrewman Richard Taylor.

He's been involved in over 100 rescues

and dozens of life-saving airlifts.

Up in the air, it's Katy's job to monitor the radar and camera

and identify any dangers on their flight path.

That means helping to navigate a ten-tonne helicopter

travelling at 120mph

past dozens of potential hazards.

Even in this foul weather, it takes them just 20 minutes

to reach the rescue site

compared to the three hours it took the Mountain Rescue teams.

Back on the ground,

Lewis is preparing to be lowered down 20 metres of vertical cliff

towards the casualty.

I'm down here!

Luci and Andy are waiting at the bottom,

ready to give emergency first aid.

He's looking nervous, but he shouldn't be.

Here we go! Keep going!

All the way through Hero Squad, Lewis has shown great bravery.

He overcame his fears during the terrifying lifeboat capsize...

Well done!

..and in cave rescue,

when ropework and a dangerous rescue combined,

he showed amazing courage.

As brave as ever, Lewis is over the edge

and on his way to the casualty.

I'm just going to count you down...

Once he's hooked the casualty onto his rope system,

Lewis lowers her down to the stretcher team.

Great work, Lewis.

I've got a really bad headache!

-She's clearly got an injury there, hasn't she?

-Yeah.

Luci takes over from here.

Keep your neck nice and still, OK?

It needs to be tight, OK? So it might be a bit uncomfortable...

When it comes to caring for casualties,

she's been the top Hero Squad cadet from the very start.

It's OK!

Whether it's been treating potential spinal injuries

-in road traffic accidents...

-Are you OK?

..or treating hypothermia in lost walkers,

she has always been first on the scene

and done work a paramedic would be proud of.

It's OK, we're just moving you into the back of the ambulance, OK?

Control, this is Hero Squad One.

We are just preparing the casualty for the helicopter

and we will meet you in the landing zone.

The helicopter is just minutes away.

It's always a last resort for the crews

to send out a winchman to pick up the casualty

as it puts them both in danger.

The Mountain Rescue team know this,

and are taking the stretcher to a landing zone

at the bottom of the hill at top speed.

'The stretcher bearers meet with squad leader Alex

'at the landing zone he's picked out for the helicopter.'

That will do you, there. Well done. Excellent teamwork.

The helicopter's on its way. It will be here in a few minutes.

Helicopter 123, do you require smoke, over?

We require smoke, helicopter 123.

Roger that. Out.

As squad leader,

it's Alex who communicates directly with the RAF crew

and guides the helicopter in.

Here it comes, guys!

OK, we're heading for the smoke over there, Kiera...

On board, Katy is under pressure to guide the pilot

and monitor the scene on the helicopter's camera system.

The helicopter creates something called downdraft

as it comes in to land.

Hold onto your hats, cadets!

This is the equivalent of being in a storm force gale.

MUSIC: "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC

The cadets have no idea who is going to get off this helicopter...

..and it's a massive shock to them

when they see that the first crew member on the ground

is the RAF's newest winchperson, Kiera.

I looked up and saw the other cadets' faces

and they all had a massive smile on their faces

and they waved at me and things.

This 13-year-old is now the lead cadet

and she must coordinate this daring land and air rescue.

We've got a female who's fallen off a cliff, who has a head injury...

From day one on Hero Squad, Kiera has shown

incredible leadership skills for one so young...

..taking charge on the treacherous mud flats...

You all right, mate? We're going to get you out.

..or rescuing people from the sea.

Kiera has proved her ability and fearlessness time and again.

'Good outcome. Standing by.'

This head injury means the injured walker

needs to get to hospital, and fast.

Thinking on her feet, Kiera reminds the cadets

to keep the casualty's head above her heart

to prevent further blood loss.

BOTH: Three, two, one, lift...

As soon as she's on board

Katy starts further treatment on the casualty.

And when Kiera and Master Crewman Taylor give the signal

it's time for take-off.

The Hero Squad casualty is hurtling towards hospital and safety.

We've got a patient we need to look after now.

Within 20 seconds of flight, the Sea King Helicopter

has covered the ground it took the mountain rescue cadets two hours

to traverse by foot and 4x4.

Maybe go and have a quick look over that ridge...

For such an exhilarating rescue

there are some long faces amongst the cadets.

Doesn't take long, does it, to disappear?

With the casualty safe, they think this is the end of

their final Hero Squad rescue

and that all that is left now is to pack up their equipment

and face that long trek back to base.

But I've got a little surprise for them.

Sierra 123, receiving.

We just realised it's a really long walk back to base

and it's very bumpy in those Land Rovers...

Any chance you could give us all a lift, over?

What do you think, skipper?

Yeah, I think we can do that.

-KIDS:

-Yes!

I think they're happy with that.

Having taken the casualty to safety

the helicopter approaches the Hero Squad landing zone

and the cadets are jumping for joy.

We literally just ran everywhere.

We were hugging each other and everything.

We were really happy.

We all started jumping around and Alice jumped

on top of me. We were all so excited.

OK, guys, 30 seconds to land.

Katy's off the aircraft this time as well,

and the whole of Hero Squad are finally reunited.

It felt amazing to meet up with all the Hero Squad together,

because it seemed like ages since we last saw them.

It was amazing to update them on everything.

The cadets board the helicopter for a ride that will take them

to the end of Hero Squad.

What a fantastic end to their journey this has been.

I love it!

This final rescue has been thrilling so far. Hopefully it won't end.

Going on the helicopter today was absolutely amazing.

It's by far been my favourite thing. Lost for words, it's amazing.

It was awesome being on a helicopter,

and I got to lean out, so there was the edge of the helicopter

and I was like that. It was so cool.

Working with the RAF has been amazing and I just want

to go on and be an RAF cadet now

and I'm going to when I get home.

Being on that helicopter was amazing, cos the door opened

and we got to look right out and it was like TV but real. It was weird.

This whole experience has just been totally incredible

and I just don't want it to end now.

It's been really good on this whole Hero Squad experience

and I wish it would never end.

The final flight of the Hero Squad cadets is almost over.

Over this epic series they've achieved so much,

created some unforgettable moments,

and impressed every member of the emergency services

they've worked with.

From all of us at the RNLI, well done, Hero Squad.

You, Hero Squad, have done exceptionally well.

You've shown leadership, communication and teamwork

and done a really good job. Well done. Fantastic.

If you take up caving seriously,

there'll be a place on the team for you.

Your work today here, cutting the guy out of the car, was first-class.

You'd put a lot of fire stations to shame.

It's not just the cadets' mentors who have sent their congratulations.

When they reach the ground, there is a very special letter waiting for

every single one of them, written and signed by the patron of

the National Mountain Rescue Association

and crew member of RAF 22 Squadron.

That letter, that left me speechless.

I just couldn't speak.

It was actually Prince William who wrote the letter

and signed it to us!

No-one of 12 and 13 has got the chance to do

all the stuff we've done.

It's just been the best experience,

and something you're never going to forget.

I'm actually very, very proud of myself.

Their journey with the emergency services and Hero Squad is over -

or is it just the beginning?

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