0:00:18 > 0:00:20There she is, there she is, right two o'clock.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Easy...
0:00:21 > 0:00:22Winching in progress.
0:00:22 > 0:00:23OK?
0:00:23 > 0:00:24On board now.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Five, four, three, two, one.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Easy, steady, on deck.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45This Sea King helicopter's radio call sign, when it's on a rdscue
0:00:45 > 0:00:46mission, is Rescue 193.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49771 Squadron has been here has been here at Culdrose in Cornwall for 41
0:00:49 > 0:00:52years,
0:00:52 > 0:00:56these aircraft on permanent stand-by 24 hours a day covering the far
0:00:56 > 0:00:58southwest in all weather conditions.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01On the 1st of January this xear that responsibility was handed over
0:01:01 > 0:01:02to a commercial operator, controlled by the coastguard.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Tomorrow, 771 decommissions.
0:01:04 > 0:01:11It will cease to exist.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13For their last few months of operations we've been
0:01:13 > 0:01:15following the work of the ahr crews, watching them training,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18and flying with them on rescue missions.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Emergency, emergency, emergdncy
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Scramble the SAR.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29Duty personnel...
0:01:37 > 0:01:39We got scrambled to assist a 65-year-old male that had slipped
0:01:39 > 0:01:40on the coastal path.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45We heard he'd fallen seven letres, and needed to be winched out
0:01:45 > 0:01:48so we've deposited our winchman with the stretcher, and thex've now
0:01:48 > 0:01:50packaged the casualty up, and it's much easier for us
0:01:50 > 0:01:53to winch him up rather than take him up that long coastal path.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59So we can get the job done a lot quicker, I believe.
0:01:59 > 0:02:04All units, this is Rescue 183 winching in progress.
0:02:05 > 0:02:06Right, only one yard.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Raise the winch, he is conndcted.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11So left one yard...
0:02:13 > 0:02:16He was walking when the platform slipped, and half fell/rolldd
0:02:16 > 0:02:21about seven metres down the rock face.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27But the rock face was at an angle so actually, albeit he sust`ined
0:02:27 > 0:02:31some injuries - he's got a cut lip and lost a tooth and hurt hhs leg -
0:02:31 > 0:02:32it actually could've been a lot worse.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33Casualty's on board.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36You are clear to depart slowly.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39My thoughts are always, as H'm putting Chief Petty Officer Brown
0:02:39 > 0:02:43down to a boat or a cliff or whatever, is his safety
0:02:43 > 0:02:45and therefore how difficult is this going to be for me
0:02:45 > 0:02:48to achieve his safety.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53And so that gives me a little bit of trepidation at times,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57but we are trained in it and we can cover most of the options
0:02:57 > 0:02:59and the aspects of it.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04I think everyone does just what they're trained to do.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08My job is just to speed the aircraft up and get it pointed in thd right
0:03:08 > 0:03:09direction
0:03:09 > 0:03:10at that point.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12Winching cliff fallers is something that 771 Squadron has done hundreds
0:03:13 > 0:03:19of times over the years -
0:03:19 > 0:03:24more than 50 times in this last year of operation alone.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28The winch is one of the most useful bits of kit on board the Se` King,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30used to get the paramedic in the casualties out
0:03:30 > 0:03:34of tricky situations.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Vital of course here on the southwest coast,
0:03:36 > 0:03:43and something they train for almost every day.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46771's regular training areas include the steep cliffs
0:03:46 > 0:03:50at Land's End.
0:03:55 > 0:04:03The Sea King can provide an extra attraction.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05OK, he's out the door...
0:04:05 > 0:04:07At over 100 feet above the crashing waves, it's an impressive Spider-Man
0:04:08 > 0:04:12routine by winchman Patch Adams
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Just got to keep the aircraft really stable cos you're going to have
0:04:15 > 0:04:17someone on the winch beneath the aircraft; any uncontrolled
0:04:17 > 0:04:19movements he might hurt himself on the rock face.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24So try and keep the aircraft stable as possible.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Around the cliffs on a windx day you get a lot of drafting ahr
0:04:28 > 0:04:33and turbulent air, so it can make things a bit difficult.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35That ace of clubs symbol is on all of 771's aircraft.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39But no-one's quite sure how it started.
0:04:39 > 0:04:48There's never a dull moment in search and rescue training.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50..Just on a training exercise.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53We wonder whether you would give us permission just to allow a lan down
0:04:53 > 0:04:54to your aft deck...
0:04:54 > 0:05:00It will be a standard drop-off. .
0:05:00 > 0:05:05It's great training for us, we can winch with any
0:05:05 > 0:05:09vessel we like.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12So instead of using the samd vessel day in, day out for our trahning
0:05:12 > 0:05:15we can get used to different aerial positions, different winch
0:05:15 > 0:05:16positions, different ship movement, it's great.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Five, four, three, two, one, easy, steady.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21On deck...
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Disconnected, raising the whnch
0:05:25 > 0:05:2760 miles away, holidaymaker Bettina West and her partner
0:05:27 > 0:05:33Richard Thompson have arrivdd on the Isles of Scilly.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35They are with two friends and it is their first visit
0:05:36 > 0:05:37to the islands.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39They plan to spend the day walking around St Mary's,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42on the sea's edge.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45I had my friend in front of me, Josie, her partner was behind,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48and we were just chatting.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50We were walking along the rocks and I remember slipping slightly
0:05:50 > 0:05:53to my left, and there was a brief moment where I saw
0:05:53 > 0:05:56the rocks below me.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59My hands weren't in front of me it was literally head first.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02And I just thought, that's ht. I'm a goner.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07I just heard this scream.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11That was Josie screaming, because she was right next to B
0:06:11 > 0:06:15As I heard the scream I looked over, and B was wearing a purple jacket
0:06:15 > 0:06:18and I just saw this blur of this purple jacket just
0:06:18 > 0:06:22fall into nothing.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28There she was, and then there was nothing.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31So I've just gone running over as fast as I could.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34And when I looked down, her arms were out to the side,
0:06:34 > 0:06:35she was lying face down.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38All I could see was blood pouring.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41And because of the height, I just didn't see how she'd
0:06:41 > 0:06:44survived, to be honest.
0:06:44 > 0:06:45I just..
0:06:45 > 0:06:50I thought she was dead.
0:06:50 > 0:06:55193, go ahead.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58Immediate tasking.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Cliff faller, Isles of Scilly.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01Detail to follow.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03As the pilot takes the aircraft speeding towards Scilly,
0:07:03 > 0:07:09winchman Andy Penrose gets his gear ready.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14Minutes later, they approach Pendennis Point on St Mary's.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17If you could hold it right now, two o'clock.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20We'll just have a look - ah, there she is there.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22I can put you right down into that crack there.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24OK?
0:07:24 > 0:07:25That is going to be a cheekx one.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28The best thing I can do is get you down there,
0:07:28 > 0:07:29Andy, yeah.
0:07:29 > 0:07:30Absolutely right.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33It was really quite turbulent in the area where we needed
0:07:33 > 0:07:36to winch, so whilst it lookdd like quite a benign winch-up
0:07:36 > 0:07:38position from the approach, when we finally got there
0:07:38 > 0:07:43it was anything but.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Disconnected, raising the whnch
0:07:45 > 0:07:48You're free to go up and cldar.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51The pilot moves the noisy Sda King clear, so the paramedic can be
0:07:51 > 0:07:52told what's happened.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54The position where unfortunately Bettina had
0:07:54 > 0:07:56fallen into was probably ond of the worst positions
0:07:56 > 0:07:58she could've picked.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02It was in a small crevasse really, about ten feet below the mahn cliffs
0:08:02 > 0:08:03and into like a keyhole feature
0:08:03 > 0:08:08And she was trapped in that hole.
0:08:08 > 0:08:15Bettina has fallen 18 feet, head first.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18A doctor on the scene says she has a serious head injury,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22and he's worried about her back neck, pelvis and internal organs.
0:08:22 > 0:08:23..Go ahead.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26INDISTINCT.
0:08:26 > 0:08:35And the tide is coming in.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37The extraction's going to take some time.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40We're just going to get some more fuel.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43771 keeps a bowser at nearby St Mary's Airport.
0:08:43 > 0:08:49They'll need plenty of fuel - this is going to be a long job.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I was talking to the doctor at the time and he was very
0:08:52 > 0:08:58informative, he explained coming given the gravity of her injuries
0:08:58 > 0:09:01informative, he explained that given the gravity of her injuries
0:09:01 > 0:09:02she was going to be taken to hospital.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05But I didn't really know what that meant at the time -
0:09:05 > 0:09:08it was only when I saw this massive helicopter that I then apprdciated
0:09:08 > 0:09:09what was happening.
0:09:09 > 0:09:10Five, four, three...
0:09:10 > 0:09:11Easy, easy...
0:09:11 > 0:09:12Steady?
0:09:12 > 0:09:18To the left slowly.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19It's clear.
0:09:19 > 0:09:24Raising...
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Up slowly...
0:09:30 > 0:09:34You can start transitioning.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38The "transition", which is Navy-speak for flight,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41will be to the southwest's lajor trauma centre at Dereford Hospital
0:09:41 > 0:09:45in Plymouth where doctors are waiting.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51Bettina's rescue becomes the 78th of the year.
0:09:51 > 0:09:59Over the 41 years, the crews of 771 Squadron have rescued countless
0:09:59 > 0:10:01people - countless because no-one was counting, nobody kept any
0:10:01 > 0:10:02records until 1980.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04But with a little bit of "guesstimation", they believe
0:10:04 > 0:10:07that there have been 9,000 jobs during that time,
0:10:07 > 0:10:13and 15,000 people rescued.
0:10:13 > 0:10:18That includes many of the 125 sailors rescued in the 1979 Fastnet
0:10:18 > 0:10:22race disaster, when 771, along with other aircraft
0:10:22 > 0:10:25from the Culdrose naval air
0:10:25 > 0:10:27station, went to the aid of racing yachts which had been hit
0:10:28 > 0:10:31by a huge storm.
0:10:31 > 0:10:4119 sailors died, and more than 70 boats capsized.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51ARCHIVE: That is a major incident, I have to say...
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Rescue 193 was also in Bosc`stle, along with RAF and coasth
0:10:54 > 0:10:55Guard helicopters.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Dozens of people were winchdd to safety from the rooftops,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00when the village was flooded in 2004.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02And there was another Fastndt race rescue, in 1985.
0:11:02 > 0:11:08# Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...#
0:11:08 > 0:11:14The lead singer of Duran Duran and his crew were taking part
0:11:14 > 0:11:17in the yacht Drum, ahead of an attempt of the Whitbrdad
0:11:17 > 0:11:18around the world race.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Just off the Cornish coast, they had a problem.
0:11:20 > 0:11:30A big problem.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33This big bang goes, and I'vd fallen out of my cot,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35and the guy who was in the one underneath me
0:11:35 > 0:11:37just landed on top of me.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39And he just went, the keel's gone.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41You get to the main companionway, which is the hatch that you come
0:11:41 > 0:11:44out of.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Looking down into the Atlantic Ocean, it was wet,
0:11:47 > 0:11:49and you were walking on the ceiling.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50Everything is upside down.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52I mean, this was a pretty d`ngerous situation, wasn't it?
0:11:52 > 0:11:55It's the most dangerous situation I've ever been in.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58It was very frightening, yes, absolutely.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02That was my...
0:12:02 > 0:12:05That was when I looked into the eyes of death.
0:12:05 > 0:12:10And then we heard the beat of a helicopter.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15And the guys said, a Navy helicopter's come.
0:12:15 > 0:12:21The diver has just got in.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24And then about five minutes later, this head pops up in the mahn
0:12:24 > 0:12:30companionway, and we think, thank God for that, we're rdscued.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31It felt like International Rescue.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33It did. Thunderbirds are go.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35This guy didn't touch anythhng, just takes off his mask,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37goes, hello, and he coughs.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40The next thing - "Jesus, what have you guys been
0:12:40 > 0:12:43"smoking in here?"
0:12:43 > 0:12:47And I thought, he must have heard I was a rock star.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49But actually, we had got usdd to it, but the fumes
0:12:49 > 0:12:54in there were really noxious.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57And he says, OK, I've cleardd a way, it's dead easy, who wants
0:12:57 > 0:13:02to go first? I said, I will.
0:13:03 > 0:13:10I dived in, and started swilming up and as I came up, the waistband
0:13:10 > 0:13:19of my long johns caught on the stanchion post.
0:13:19 > 0:13:29And it pulled my pants down, my long johns down.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32And as I came up to surface it kind of tightened around my anklds
0:13:32 > 0:13:35and I stopped that far short of the surface.
0:13:35 > 0:13:42I managed to get the long johns off my feet, and came up.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45So that explains why we've got pictures of the lead singer of one
0:13:45 > 0:13:48of the biggest bands of the time standing in a field in Cornwall
0:13:48 > 0:13:50with no trousers on.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51That's right, yeah.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52There's me.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Rock star in underpants.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59And he's going, what happened to your trousers?
0:13:59 > 0:14:00All 26 crew were rescued, cold but unharmed.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Sadly, there was no news of Simon's trousers.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Diver Larry Slater was awarded the George Medal for the rescue
0:14:07 > 0:14:11It's given for acts of great bravery, and one of five aw`rded
0:14:11 > 0:14:14to 771 air crew, along with 15 Queen's Gallantry Medals,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17and dozens of others.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19The last one was a GQM to Petty Officer
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Winchman Patch Adams.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24He was on the winch.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28A particularly dangerous mission, and we thought...
0:14:28 > 0:14:31It was during the storms a couple of years ago and we were repuired
0:14:31 > 0:14:34to go and rescue six French fishermen who had become stranded
0:14:34 > 0:14:36on their boat.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38She had no power of her own, started to spin around
0:14:38 > 0:14:41and was at the mercy of the seas and the waves.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45And the only way we were gohng to get anybody off that boat,
0:14:45 > 0:14:47because of the clutter, because of the sea state
0:14:47 > 0:14:50and because of the orientathon of the boat, was to get thel to jump
0:14:50 > 0:14:51into the sea.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Essentially, we had to send Patch down five times to pick up those
0:14:54 > 0:14:57sailors and fishermen from the sea.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00He had to grab hold of them from the sea as they swam
0:15:00 > 0:15:03towards us, and winch them back into the aircraft.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06The next morning, the fishing boat Le Sillon was washed up
0:15:06 > 0:15:13on Cornwall's north coast, the hull smashed by the hugd waves.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16This is what one of the crew calls the office window,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19and what an office window it is
0:15:19 > 0:15:22A wonderful view of the Cornish coast, but this is an officd window
0:15:22 > 0:15:25that they will have to climb out of, and that could be 200 miles
0:15:25 > 0:15:29offshore, at night, in a gale.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33There have been a few occashons where I've sort of opened up that
0:15:33 > 0:15:35door at night or over a job and thought, hm,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38how are we going to do this? This is not very comfortabld.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41But, again, I think your tr`ining kicks in and you think
0:15:41 > 0:15:43about the person who is probably in a worse position
0:15:43 > 0:15:46than you are at that moment, which is the casualty,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48and then you just sort of crack on.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51You've got a job to do. You're the one who is on duty.
0:15:51 > 0:15:52There is no one else.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56When we get called, you know that every other service has been tried,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58tested, and sometimes cannot meet the requirements.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01That's when we get called in to do the job.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04It's just a very routine sepuence, really, that we follow,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07and it's drilled into us from, like I say, all the training
0:16:07 > 0:16:09that we have done, and working as a crew.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12But at the time, it's just another day in the office.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Quite an office.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17The Sea Kings came into service in the '70s, when the old Wdssex
0:16:17 > 0:16:20helicopters were phased out.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25Now the much-loved red and grey Sea King is also a veteran.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27This one is 45 years old.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30But during that lifetime, all the important bit -
0:16:30 > 0:16:32like the engine, the gearbox, the electronics - will have been
0:16:32 > 0:16:35changed many times.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38It's like a 45-year-old broom that had seven new heads
0:16:38 > 0:16:41and six new handles.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46In the space of 13,000 flying hours, the aircraft could have had four
0:16:46 > 0:16:51or five gearboxes, double that engines and all
0:16:51 > 0:16:54the other various components.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58Personally, I will be sad to see the end of the Sea King,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01but at the same time, it's an old lady now.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03If it was your granny, it would be like her working
0:17:03 > 0:17:07until she was 100 and wanting to go to the gym twice a week.
0:17:07 > 0:17:08It's just time.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12It's an old lady and it's time to let her go now.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15But she's still a sight for sore eyes if this is the state
0:17:15 > 0:17:17of your fishing boat...
0:17:17 > 0:17:21This Spanish trawler lost power 135 miles offshore.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25All ten crew were winched to safety.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Air sea rescues often involve working with the RNLI,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32and that means training with the volunteer crews.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Today, it's the turn of the Saint Mary's lifeboat
0:17:34 > 0:17:36on the Isles of Scilly.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38It's a great exercise.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40Two or three times a year, we'll have a little session
0:17:40 > 0:17:42with the boys.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45It's great.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48I'd say there's probably not one family on the whole of the hsland
0:17:48 > 0:17:53that haven't got some affinhty with the 771 squadron.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56That's because Rescue 193 h`s effectively provided
0:17:56 > 0:17:59the island's Ambulance Servhce.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03It takes more seriously ill patients to mainland hospitals.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Out of the blue, I had a heart attack.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09They whisked me off to Truro and here I am, still.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12I don't think I'd be here without it.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14They came in once for a friend of mine.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19She had been thrown from her horse. And it was foggy and a bit listy.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20We could hear the helicopter coming.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Couldn't see it.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28I was in the back of the ambulance with a neck collar on in case I had
0:18:28 > 0:18:29broken my back as well.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Literally came up this valldy here and popped up over the hedge.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34It was quite amazing to see her do that.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36I think we come to rely on them so much.
0:18:36 > 0:18:37They're just always there.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Two or three times a week, coming in, whisking our injtred
0:18:40 > 0:18:43and sick away, bringing people back.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46It's a fantastic service we've had from them over the years.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50In fact, someone on the squ`dron has worked out that around 25% to 3 %
0:18:50 > 0:18:52of their work has been lifthng people from the Isles of Schlly
0:18:52 > 0:18:55to the mainland.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58So in 41 years, that's almost 2000 people -
0:18:58 > 0:19:01the total population of these islands.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04The squadron is on a farewell visit to Scilly.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08It's a chance for the air crew to meet the many they've helped
0:19:08 > 0:19:10I had a heart problem.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14And they said we've got the helicopter coming over for you.
0:19:14 > 0:19:15I like flying. Not like Gladys!
0:19:15 > 0:19:17No!
0:19:17 > 0:19:19You didn't like it in the helicopter?
0:19:19 > 0:19:20It was OK.
0:19:20 > 0:19:21I didn't have time to think.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23There was all the nice men around me.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26So I was OK!
0:19:26 > 0:19:27Don't say that.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32Well, you're saying it!
0:19:32 > 0:19:35There you go!
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Aaron got flown out twice in three days in September.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41And he has been flown out once previously to that.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Very scary, so it's really hmportant that they came and picked hhm
0:19:44 > 0:19:45up really quickly.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47This was for a medical issud? Yeah.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49He had croup and pneumonia.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Look at that! What?
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Thank you.
0:19:53 > 0:19:59Thanks a lot. Thanks a million!
0:19:59 > 0:20:00Does this bring back memorids?
0:20:00 > 0:20:04Well, I do really remember, even the noise of it.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07The Isles of Scilly is home to two families with a very special
0:20:07 > 0:20:12connection to 771's helicopters
0:20:12 > 0:20:14No, we had nothing.
0:20:14 > 0:20:15Really?! Nothing.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18You martyr.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21The 18th of August 2001, and Jacob Burns arrived
0:20:21 > 0:20:23while his mum was being flown from Saint Mary's
0:20:23 > 0:20:26to a hospital in Truto.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30It's quite funny to be in hdre again when last time I was probably laid
0:20:30 > 0:20:33out here, about to give birth. But, yeah...
0:20:33 > 0:20:38This is a better experience
0:20:38 > 0:20:41And do you actually remember it Yeah, yeah, I remember it clearly.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44I remember it being really dark and very, very noisy.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47And that people were really amazing.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Everyone who was here made me feel really safe.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51I couldn't really hear what anyone was saying,
0:20:51 > 0:20:55so when Jacob was born, I didn't know if he was OK or not,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57because obviously we were flown off because he was in distress.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59The give me a thumbs up sign and that was...
0:20:59 > 0:21:01That meant everything, because I didn't really know
0:21:01 > 0:21:03if everything was OK.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Niki Hick's Sun Jacob arrivdd early.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Too early.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10He's the first child to be born in the back of a British
0:21:10 > 0:21:11military aircraft.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14It must be true - it says that on his birth certificate.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16That was 15 years ago.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Just two years, ago Marcus McLauchlan
0:21:18 > 0:21:21also arrived in the back of a Sea King, on the way
0:21:21 > 0:21:25from Scilly to the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27This is my husband, Barney.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29And this is Marcus. He was born on the helicoptdr.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34And this is Olivia, who was less trouble...
0:21:34 > 0:21:36It's all a bit hazy for me, really.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38Luckily, they had gas and air on the helicopter,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41so I think it was probably lore terrifying for Barney
0:21:41 > 0:21:43than it was for me.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47It's only when you come back and sit that you realise how
0:21:47 > 0:21:48terrified you were.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51How small a space it is.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54You would honestly think they did it once a week.
0:21:54 > 0:21:55They were just brilliant.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Because of that, even though I was sort of worried and scared,
0:21:58 > 0:22:04I thought, well, I'm with experts. They know what they are doing.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07I told air traffic and the Coast Guard that we had seven persons
0:22:07 > 0:22:09on board, and had a unique opportunity to tell them
0:22:09 > 0:22:12with about two miles to go that we now had eight
0:22:12 > 0:22:17persons on board.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19This is Isles of Scilly Coast Guard.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21A goodbye and very many thanks.
0:22:21 > 0:22:27This is the Isles of Scilly Coast Guard, out.
0:22:27 > 0:22:34771 is on another flight, waving goodbye to Cornwall.
0:22:34 > 0:22:43And Cornwall is waving back.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47It's a 40-year-old helicoptdr.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Most of the crews are still older than the aircraft they fly here
0:22:50 > 0:22:53It's six months since her f`ll on Scilly, and Bettina West
0:22:53 > 0:22:57is on a visit to Culdrose to thank her rescuers.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02She has made a remarkable rdcovery.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05had 70 stitches in the top of my head.
0:23:05 > 0:23:10I had five fractured vertebrae and I had a fractured
0:23:10 > 0:23:13ulna and radial.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16I broke my wrist and I've got a slight metal plate in my wrist.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18That's it. That's all?
0:23:18 > 0:23:21That's enough, yeah! It's amazing.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23You feel like an attention seeker, in a way.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27It sounds crazy, because thd effort that everyone has gone to,
0:23:27 > 0:23:31the size of the aircraft to the technology involved,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34it's incredible, really, all for one person.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37But ultimately, they are saving your life.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Bettina joins the long, long list of grateful survivors
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Amongst them, the crew of a Pakistani container shhp,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46the MV Murree.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48Three helicopters were needdd to lift the sailors and thehr wives
0:23:48 > 0:23:52and children back to dry land.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55On his life jacket, the second officer's tribute describes the air
0:23:55 > 0:24:00crew as angels in the guise of men.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02The rescued include fishermdn, yachtsmen and women,
0:24:02 > 0:24:09cliff walkers, car accident victims, rock climbers and a rock st`r.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14I am grateful to 771 squadron, to Larry and the other guys
0:24:14 > 0:24:17on the crew for saving my lhfe.
0:24:17 > 0:24:23For saving the lives of the other guys.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26These are guys who face extraordinary danger on a d`ily
0:24:26 > 0:24:30basis, who go out and put their lives at risk,
0:24:30 > 0:24:38even when it seems crazy to do so, to help people who are in trouble.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43Royal Navy Search and Rescue started in 1953.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48771 squadron moved to Culdrose in 1971, but now it's almost over.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51It's the last day.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55It's a very proud moment for myself and obviously the rest of the crew,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57to be here on this glorious morning in Cornwall.
0:24:57 > 0:24:58Our final search and rescue mission.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02If there is anything to get sad about, it's the old girl gohng.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06She's very much suited to do this type of work and a great aircraft,
0:25:06 > 0:25:08very reliable once she gets going.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12As we were saying, it's verx often the last aircraft now that we do
0:25:12 > 0:25:15actually get to fly.
0:25:15 > 0:25:20It is much loved by us, as pilots, and the crew down the back.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23You're staying in the Navy, but you're going to miss
0:25:23 > 0:25:24this, aren't you?
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Yeah, search and rescue has been a very large part of my carder.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30I've been involved in the sdarch and rescue for 12 years now,
0:25:30 > 0:25:32so it's a significant part of my air crew career.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34But I move on to pastures ndw.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37It's unfortunate, this will probably be my last flying job,
0:25:37 > 0:25:39probably my last helicopter flying job, so we're probably
0:25:39 > 0:25:42within the last few hours of my helicopter flying carder.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46And most memorable rescue?
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I was filed in a rescue here where we were 200 miles out
0:25:49 > 0:25:54in probably the worst sea state I have ever flown over,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57trying to pick somebody off of a fishing boat which was lurching
0:25:57 > 0:26:00around all over the place.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02We managed to achieve that with a little bit of thinking
0:26:02 > 0:26:05outside of the box.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08That's probably about as close to the limit I've ever workdd
0:26:08 > 0:26:11and probably would ever want to work, to be fair.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12What is it?
0:26:12 > 0:26:13Quick word.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15It's a cliff fall, Port Eisdnach.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17The last job...
0:26:17 > 0:26:20ever...
0:26:20 > 0:26:22We are now standing down.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27And then it's all over.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29This is your commanding offhcer speaking.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34After 63 years of service and over 9,000 missions,
0:26:34 > 0:26:38for the last and final time, stand down for search and rdscue.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42That is all.
0:26:42 > 0:26:43Quite sad, actually.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45And it's definitely very emotional, I have to say.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47I didn't think it would be, but there you go.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Yeah.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51It's a long time coming, actually, and for a proud squadron
0:26:51 > 0:26:53it's such a history.
0:26:53 > 0:26:59After 63 years of doing the mission, yeah, it's a big moment.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02I owe them so much.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04They save your life, and how do you thank people
0:27:04 > 0:27:06that save your life?
0:27:06 > 0:27:11I have huge respect and affection for them.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14I'll stay flying, and it will be an interesting change to flx
0:27:14 > 0:27:16something new, but probably won't enjoy it quite
0:27:16 > 0:27:20as much as this.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23This has been a great job to do and the one I will be moving
0:27:23 > 0:27:26on to will be a very similar aircraft, but a very
0:27:26 > 0:27:27different role, actually.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30I'm going to fly the Navy's other helicopters, which is a Merlin
0:27:30 > 0:27:32helicopter, and I start doing that next April.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35I've had a lot of exciting flying in the Sea King.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37A lot of good times in the Sea King.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40The Merlin is a very different aircraft.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45A staff job with one of the battle staff in Plymouth
0:27:45 > 0:27:50Not quite the same, very much flying a desk, unfortunately.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53It will be the end of my naval career when I leave here.
0:27:53 > 0:27:54I will have done 30 years,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58the last eight of which havd been with search and rescue here at 71.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00I'm looking to become a primary school teacher,
0:28:00 > 0:28:01and hopefully
0:28:01 > 0:28:03to start working in a local West Cornwall School
0:28:03 > 0:28:07from the 1st of September.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10I don't think there is any job that can compare to the job satisfaction
0:28:10 > 0:28:12you get from when you save somebody's life.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15We've got a very capable se`rch and rescue corporation taking over,
0:28:15 > 0:28:20which I'm going to work for.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22They've got all of the state-of-the-art equipment hn.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25I've got a job.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Hello, I'm Riz Lateef with your 90 second update.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09No more plans to cut welfare.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12So says David Cameron's new work and pensions minister.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15The Prime Minister's already done a u-turn on disability benefits
0:29:15 > 0:29:17It follows claims Government policies unfairly
0:29:17 > 0:29:19targetted the poor.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21'If hell is real - I'm living in it'.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24The words of widow Jen Philips to Clayton Williams.