Episode 2 Helicopter Rescue

The mountains and coastline of Wales -

beautiful but treacherous.

'That's all copied, 122 approaching the scene this time.'

Wales has the busiest RAF Search and Rescue operation

in the whole of Britain.

Hundreds of people are saved every year

by the iconic yellow Sea King helicopters.

In this series, we follow the real-life rescue stories -

from mountainside to hospital bedside.

Our cameras have been allowed behind-the-scenes access to the two RAF flights serving Wales.

It's Santa Claus and Rudolph!

With a Royal co-pilot serving within its ranks,

all eyes are on the Search and Rescue Force like never before.

This is the story of the men and women who work with Prince William.

This time on Helicopter Rescue...

Rescue 122 are between a rock and a hard place

as they try to rescue an injured student on an Aberystwyth beach.

We just weren't able to carry her over that sort of terrain.

It puts the rescuers in danger

but it also puts the casualty in more danger!

What happened next to this man stranded on a South Wales cliff edge

only feet away from the incoming tide?

He's in trouble for sure.

We don't want to blow him off.

And the Sea King crew face their toughest challenge yet

as they battle to save a father and son

from a disused quarry

in Mid Wales.

That's the most difficult job I've ever had to do.

It's October half-term.

Across the country, the week-long holiday

has brought people out in their droves to enjoy the best of what Wales has to offer.

But it's no holiday for 22 Squadron's C-Flight.

Aircraft Captain Matt Thompson and his crew are scrambled.

A female with an injured leg, I think it's a broken leg...

She's down in Aberystwyth.

We have a quick check that nothing's going to affect us.

It will take about 20 minutes or thereabouts.

We've got a hospital right next to it, so...it's all good.

Super. Better run.

After only eight minutes, all four members of Rescue 122

are ready for take off.

On the winch today is Ed Griffiths.

Any sort of holiday where people will naturally go

to the coastline or the mountains

is going to be busy for us.

Two RAF Search and Rescue flights patrol Wales -

one based at Royal Marines Barracks Chivenor in the south,

the other at RAF Valley in the north.

Last year, the C-Flight crew based on Anglesey,

rescued more than 230 people.

Today, their latest call out is to Clarach Bay on the west coast.

'Four in the party, they're about 25 metres from the water line.

'The tide's going out so it'll be low tide in another hour and a half.'

Captain Matt is already planning where to take the casualty

after the rescue.

Synopsis of what we're doing then.

The territory's here, she'll be located just on the beach.

The hospital's just in the middle of the town, so we've only got...

As you can see on this map, from there to there to the hospital.

The casualty being on the beach, it should be quite straightforward for us, really.

After only half an hour's flying,

Rescue 122 have reached Clarach beach.

Coastguard and lifeboat crews are already on the scene.

A young woman has slipped on the shale rocks by the cliffs.

But it's a tricky place to land nine tonnes of aircraft.

Matt needs Ed and radar operator Nick to guide the Sea King

inch by inch to the ground.

Oh, left wheel up. Possible nose up. Slightly wobbly land.

Three...two...one.

Ed goes straight to the casualty and keeps in radio contact

with the pilot Kate Simmonds.

-If it looks too slippy or...

-I think it might be a winch recovery.

-Yeah.

Although it appeared a benign place -

it's on the beach, on the rocks -

but what appears to be a benign area isn't,

cos to try and walk across those rocks,

I was struggling to get there with a bag on my back,

slipping all over the place,

cos there's kelp, rock pools and seaweed and all sorts all over.

Having made it across the rocks, Ed's first job is to assess the casualty.

Want something for the pain before we start moving it?

It's been an eventful day for 19-year-old Jenny Barbour.

The marine biology student from Aberystwyth University slipped

while collecting samples for her aquarium.

Now with a suspected fractured leg,

she needs the Sea King to get her to hospital.

What first of all may appear...

"Why are we using a Search and Rescue helicopter to do this?

"Why doesn't she just get carried off?"

You weren't able to. It puts the rescuers in danger,

but it also puts the casualty in more danger.

To try and carry someone across there, you just aren't able.

We elected to place her into a stretcher

and winch her on board the aircraft,

cos we just weren't able to carry her over that sort of terrain.

Radar operator Nick helps to guide the stretcher into the Sea King.

Winching in.

Ten feet to go, just manoeuvring the stretcher.

-In.

-In. Stop!

-Out.

-Out.

Safe on board, it's only a couple of minutes flying time

to a landing site.

Waiting at a sports field in Llanbadarn,

an ambulance prepares to take Jenny to nearby Bronglais Hospital.

At their headquarters at RAF Valley,

it's always all hands on deck.

All Search and Rescue crew are trained here

on the yellow Sea King helicopters.

A 56-strong engineering team work around the clock

to look after the ultimate Search and Rescue machine.

These yellow birds receive constant care as engineers make sure

that of the five Search and Rescue helicopters at Valley,

two are always ready to respond to a cry for help.

Paul Hughes is amongst a team of five ground handlers

who know these machines inside and out.

We're really responsible for seeing the helicopters in and out,

the movements -

seeing them off and seeing them in.

And we do the maintenance on them as well -

limited servicing, refuelling.

But our main responsibility is for the flying programme,

to get the helicopters flying.

Whenever C-Flight need to fly the Sea King's ground crew

will have her ready and waiting on the tarmac.

This one's going up, it is.

So...we take the tip socks off and then wait for the crew.

It's all fuelled up and ready to go.

We're usually out there before the air crew,

getting the cab ready so there's less for them to do

and just try to get everything running

as quickly as possible, really.

In the office next door to C-Flight,

shift supervisor "Bomber" knows he's only a window away

from the next shout.

There's a very close relationship

between the pilots, rear crew and the engineers.

We have to liaise very closely with them,

cos their requirements -

if it's due in the daylight hours -

they've got to be airborne within 15 minutes so we have to respond to that.

If it's at night-time, they've got to be airborne in 45 minutes.

They've just come back from the Clarach rescue

but it's an instant turnaround for Matt, Ed

and the rest of the crew.

There's another call out, back in Mid Wales.

This one's an RTC - Road Traffic Collision,

down in Mid Wales, down towards South Wales, I suppose.

Just having a look, cos it's going to get dark during this job,

so making sure we've got enough lines on maps and things

and we know where fuel is, etc.

Where's my morphine gone? There it is.

Going to have a wee and on we go!

It's after seven and visibility is getting poorer.

The Sea King helicopter is one of the few flying ambulances

that can respond to call outs at night.

For the crew, it means a lot of skill and concentration.

They have to navigate their way

to a roadside near Llandrindod Wells, in Mid Wales.

Two people have been injured after their car crashed into a tree.

A 16-year-old girl is in a critical condition.

Ed, get out the way, then I'm going to jump.

'Bring the tail right by 10/20 degrees.'

-'If you bring it round about 30, you're going to level the front up a bit more.

-Yeah, that'd be nice.'

After recovering the casualty, Ed informs the crew

that she needs urgent specialist care.

'We need to go to Cardiff Hospital.'

'Roger. OK.'

'And it's time critical, as well.'

It's always harder when they're younger.

It was obvious that she was in a serious condition.

It was a serious head injury she was suffering from.

You can't think about it, you can't get yourself concerned about it,

cos you just wouldn't be able to do your job otherwise.

These things would just mount up inside you

and you just wouldn't be able to complete your job.

Rescue 122 take the 16-year-old girl on the brief flight

to Cardiff's Heath Hospital.

She's in a critical condition.

They then head back to RAF Valley.

Call outs like these can be tough for the crew.

Talking to your other crewmates helps.

We'll never go up to somebody who's experienced and go, "Are you OK?"

What you'll get is, you'll know when they want to talk about it,

cos they might say, "Whoa, that was a bit of a hairy one."

Yeah, I mean, there's been a few times where I've just...

You kind of... You've been in one of those life and death situations

and it's been quite - I don't mind admitting it - scary.

It's scary for us sometimes

and then you go home and your family's there

and you can talk about it with them as well, so...

A difficult job can affect

more than just the Search and Rescue flight crew.

Chef Sandra Walton knows about the ups and downs

that face the members of C-Flight every working day.

It's the atmosphere. Just the silence.

Sometimes you just don't dare ask when you know it's been a bad one.

But it does affect them big style still,

even though some of them

have been doing it so many years.

They do get affected by it and it's horrible to see.

When they've had a good job, you know,

cos they're all jolly and laughing and joking.

It's lovely to see.

Sandra's day begins at 6.30 am.

They look forward to coming over for their breakfast,

cos it's the main meal of the day, I suppose.

Then they've got me to face!

-Uh-oh!

-SHE LAUGHS

Sandra? She's a delightful soul.

Can turn her hand to anything, she's always got a smile on her face

and a twinkle in her eye.

She enters into the banter with the rest of us

and gives as good as she gets as well.

Dan's lovely, yeah.

Yeah, he's really nice.

D'you want mushy peas? Yes!

But they're all fantastic, every one of them.

Yeah, they're like friends.

They took me up last year as a surprise for my birthday

and I'm petrified of heights.

But it was just unreal.

One of the officers told us we are like family to them

because we look after them.

That is really nice to know.

They depend on us to keep them going. You've got to mother them.

After breakfast each morning,

a new 24-hour shift begins on the Sea Kings.

Each crew member serves on a three-year long tour of duty

with the Search and Rescue Force.

They can be posted to any of the six bases in the UK, or even overseas.

One Royal pilot from Valley is to be posted to the Falklands.

As part of his Search and Rescue tour of duty,

Prince William will spend six weeks on the remote British base

off the coast of Argentina.

Joining him will be three crew members from Valley,

including radar operator Graeme "Livvy" Livingston.

I'm looking forward to going to the Falklands

and that's not derogatory in any way to the family or anything,

but it becomes a closer environment.

You go down with three other people

and you're going to be that four-man crew

for the whole time that you're there.

Going to colour this in yellow for me?

With wife Debbie and sons Robbie and Connor,

Livvy lives in the married quarters at RAF Valley.

Debbie's preparing herself for this tour away from home.

He's going to be thousands of miles away in the Falklands

but it's only for a short period of time

and also, whenever they're away

we have a huge support network.

I can guarantee I'll have at least one phone call a week from his work

to make sure that me and the boys are OK.

Despite that support,

the time spent apart can be tough for Debbie and the kids.

Oh, I can't wait for him coming home!

I get giddy, really, really giddy.

Two onions... No, in fact, will we go...?

One. OK?

It's almost nerve-racking coming back from a detachment

because the kids have got used to just Mum's voice

and they've got used to that way of life that you're not there.

So you're a little worried how you're going to fit back into it.

Two of those into that dish. Nice!

So it can be quite odd for a couple of days

leading up to leaving for the detachment,

where you don't really want to talk about leaving,

so it all becomes very quiet and restrictive.

-A brick wall goes up.

-Yeah, and you ignore the bags that are being packed

and things like that.

One teaspoon of red chilli powder.

But you also, on return,

-have a couple of days of almost getting used to each other again.

-Mm.

Throughout the UK, more than 100 men and women

serve on the RAF Search and Rescue helicopters.

The Royal Marines Barracks in Chivenor, North Devon,

is where 22 Squadron's A-Flight Rescue 169 is based.

From this former RAF airfield,

Squadron Leader Adam Thompson and his team

provide Search and Rescue cover for South Wales.

A significant part of our jobs are in the south coast of Wales,

typically because it's a very nice tourist place to go,

people go walking,

and so that is quite a large percentage.

A call comes in to the ops room at Chivenor.

The emergency services in South Wales need the Sea King's help

to rescue a stranded walker.

It is vital we work with the other rescue agencies.

Ultimately, what we're trying to do

is provide the best service for the casualty.

The beauty of what we can offer, is effectively,

we're a free service, we can operate day and night,

in all weathers and we provide a winch, which is quite unique,

cos we can get to situations where people are in awkward situations,

where you can't get to by foot, or by vehicle

and that winch is a unique capability.

And today, that winch is about to be put to the test.

Swansea coastguard radio in to inform pilot Matt Prosser

of the situation.

It's a single male stuck on the rocks, is it?

'The casualty is now at the bottom of the cliff. He is cut off by the tide, over.'

Rescue 169 have been scrambled

to a man stranded on Southerndown cliffs on the South Wales coast.

Radar operator Duncan Woodward

knows that it's a job only the Sea King can handle.

Our reports are that he's about

20 feet above the sea edge, the rising tide.

The only way to safely get him out

is using the rescue helicopter to hoist.

On Southerndown cliffs, a man is clearly cut off by the rising tide.

Porthcawl lifeboat have been called to the scene

and a South Wales police helicopter is keeping a close eye

on this life-threatening situation.

The man is stuck on a cliff ledge.

The lifeboat crew

can't get any closer because of the rocky coastline.

The police helicopter can only look on from above.

Only the Sea King can winch this man to safety.

Now visible from a distance 20 minutes after take off,

Rescue 169 is at the scene.

-20 feet up...

-Target sighted.

Two o'clock, low over the tide...

For pilot Matt Prosser, it's now a race against time.

This guy's on a ledge so we don't want to blow him off.

Erm...he's in trouble.

The man's been stranded on these cliffs now for almost an hour.

The only means of escape is to winch him to safety.

Going to have to be high to stay above the cliff edge,

-that's fairly sheer that side, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-I'm thinking of putting Andy out now.

-It's good.

The cliff face is dangerously close.

The Sea King's only option

is to hover at a safe height and operate an extremely long winch.

With the waves crashing beneath him,

Winchman Andy Penrose is dangling on a wire

125 feet long under the Sea King.

Steady.

Steady.

Right, one.

Steady.

On the ledge. Steady, with the survivor. Steady.

Winching it.

Up gently and right.

For student Michael Peck from Newport,

what started as a leisurely walk soon turned into a nightmare.

I got to the rocks, I realised that the tide was too far in.

I kind of panicked a bit and decided to climb down a bit

to see if I could get across,

which would have been

stupid and suicidal.

Fortunately for Michael, help was on the way as another walker

had spotted him in danger and phoned the emergency services.

Your height is good, two for right.

It was fine until we got to above the cliffs then the wind hit me

and we started spinning...

that was really scary.

Front, ten. Operating over the edge.

Back in...eight...six...

five...four...three...

two...one.

After reaching the top of the cliff, Michael was assessed

and winchman Andy Penrose was satisfied

that he didn't need any medical attention.

I was just surprised by the whole thing,

about the size of the operation that they'd launched so quickly.

I feel incredibly lucky that things didn't take a turn for the worst,

cos it could have really quickly

and my family's really grateful, just like I am.

It was a lucky escape for Michael Peck,

all thanks to that life-saving length of wire.

At RAF Valley's engineering headquarters,

Paul Hanson knows all there is to know about the winch.

It's about 0.18 of an inch in diameter...

but very strong.

It'll take up to 600lbs of operating weight.

Every time the winch has been used on a rescue,

the engineers unwind the whole wire

and check it for damage.

It can hold the weight of up to three people

and at full length it measures a dizzy 245 feet.

I wouldn't like to be at 245 feet, no!

But it works, that's how it's designed.

It will take the weight... all the way out.

It's the night shift at RAF Valley.

Radar operator Livvy is on rear crew with winchman Neil Cooper.

Ankle injury and a possible back injury?

Yes, a lower lumbar on the 40-year-old male.

-OK. Both looking like a winch job?

-Yep.

In the pilot's seat tonight is Flight Lieutenant Dan Loxton.

He's used to flying Apache ground-attack helicopters in Iraq.

Flying a Search and Rescue Sea King offers a different type of challenge.

From my previous flying experience it's very different,

it's arguably not as dynamic in the type of flying that the guys do.

Obviously, you're not getting shot at,

which is a good thing

from my point of view!

It's very challenging flying though because people get into trouble

in poor weather conditions,

so that's normally when we go out flying.

In trouble are a father and son injured in a mine,

near Dinas Mawddwy in Mid Wales.

Rescue 122 have arrived at the scene.

The conditions are bad.

The casualties' injures need urgent medical attention.

But plunged in darkness

and fighting high winds,

this will be one of the crew's toughest rescues yet.

You've got a good area below that you could commit to, I reckon.

-I'd rather stay to be fair and maintain a flyaway.

-OK.

This disused slate quarry, with steep inclines either side,

makes it a really tight spot for the helicopter.

High winds are adding to the difficulty.

The crew decide to hover at a height

and commit to a very long winch.

Night vision goggles and the on-board infrared camera

help the crew to see what's happening below.

Radar operator Livvy helps with the tricky manoeuvre

from the side door of the Sea King.

That looks to be about 150, 160 feet, mate.

The first of the two casualties is being recovered

by winchman Neil Cooper.

But at the mercy of the strong winds,

they start to swing dangerously from side to side.

You're drifting to the six...

79-year-old Peter Hay is safe on board.

But now the crew have to do it all over again to rescue his son.

Once more the wind has put the stretcher in a violent spin.

It's at times like these the on-board crew have to face

some difficult decisions.

With the wind conditions

and the weather conditions and everything else,

we have to consider aircraft performance.

We have to consider things like,

if we were to lose an engine at any stage throughout the rescue,

we have to discuss

what we will do with the winchman

if we did have an engine problem

or for whatever reason, we had to fly away from the rescue.

The last resort when a rescue threatens the safety of a helicopter

is to cut the winch cable.

The crew know

that the safety of the helicopter has priority.

That's before the safety of the winchman and the casualty.

The aircraft's safety comes first, winchman, then survivor.

So, as long as the aircraft

and the people in it are safe,

and when we're winching, the winchman is safe,

then we'll get the survivor.

If any of those things aren't in place,

then it's a dynamic risk assessment.

Slowly but surely the stretcher inches its way up to the Sea King.

We're OK, here.

After a gruelling 20 minutes, at last the casualties

and winchman Neil are safe on board.

For Neil, it's one MAJOR relief.

That's the most difficult job I've ever had to do.

But the dramatic story which led to Peter and Daniel's plight

only came to light after they were safely in Bangor's Ysbyty Gwynedd.

It was supposed to be an exciting day of exploring

for the two archaeology enthusiasts from Sussex.

Both father and son fell down a steep incline

at the Dinas Mawddwy Slate Quarry.

Even with their severe injuries, they had to slowly crawl back up

to the top of the slope to get a signal to call for help.

The paramedics came first. I just remember seeing the guys in green,

seeing their heads popping over and thinking, "Oh, thank goodness!"

And... It was at that point I knew, "I'm going to be all right."

I was just winched up with the winchman

and the worst thing was the fact that as you're going up,

you're spinning round.

And I was thinking, "This is just like being seasick,"

but the helicopter of course is incredibly noisy

but incredibly professional.

They know exactly what to do and they do it.

I think the issue that we had there was one -

the difficulty getting in,

but ultimately, we got the guys out

and were able to keep them safe and well.

It's a really nice feeling of satisfaction

and having made a difference and saved a life.

It's been a busy October for the Search and Rescue Force covering Wales.

In total, 39 people were rescued by the yellow Sea Kings.

After her fall on Clarach beach,

student Jenny Barbour suffered a fractured leg.

Initially, I was very embarrassed that there was a helicopter coming.

I felt very silly,

but once I knew they were coming,

cos I was getting cold on the beach,

I was just pleased to know that somebody was coming to take me away,

get me to the hospital and it would all be finished.

The helicopter was nice and warm as well, so...!

That was a bonus.

The young girl injured in a road accident

is making a slow but steady recovery.

And Michael Peck will be for ever grateful to Chivenor's Rescue 169,

who saved him from what could have been a fateful walk.

I think the work they do is fantastic.

They more than likely saved my life

and they save lives every single day.

The effort, to come so far to get me...it's fantastic what they do.

Next time on Helicopter Rescue...

They're battling the elements as winter hits Wales.

The option to go into the clouds is your last option.

The aircraft is going to be coming down if it ices up.

In one of the worst maritime disasters to hit Wales in years,

five men are missing at sea as a cargo ship and her crew

go down off the Llyn Peninsula.

It's a dog's life at RAF Valley as the canine Search and Rescue crew

take to the air.

And the unpredictable Welsh weather forces the Sea King

to face its ultimate challenge.

Sorry, Ed. You'll have to continue, cos we can't get above you.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd