0:00:04 > 0:00:06The mountains and coastline of Wales,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09both beautiful and treacherous.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15The iconic yellow Sea King helicopters rescue
0:00:15 > 0:00:17hundreds of people every year.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24In Wales, the RAF Search and Rescue Force is the busiest in Britain.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35In this series, we follow real rescue stories
0:00:35 > 0:00:38from mountainside to hospital bedside.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Our cameras have unprecedented access to the life-saving work
0:00:45 > 0:00:46of the Sea King crews.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Even with a royal pilot in its ranks,
0:00:52 > 0:00:56it's business as usual for RAF Search and Rescue.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05This time on Helicopter Rescue,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09the Sea King faces its toughest challenge yet.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Four young climbers have been stuck for six hours
0:01:12 > 0:01:15in freezing conditions.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17We're here now. Let's get them and let's get out of there.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22The Sea King is summoned to Caernarfon Castle -
0:01:22 > 0:01:24a tourist is trapped in one of the towers.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29We were initially thinking, "How are we going to get in here?"
0:01:29 > 0:01:33And probably there's going to be a vast amount of people that
0:01:33 > 0:01:36are going to be on walls and on turrets and things like that.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40And the RAF says goodbye to one of its captains
0:01:40 > 0:01:42in traditional Search and Rescue style.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48He'll be missed a little bit. Not that much. No.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Of course he'll be missed. He's been a great guy. He's very experienced.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02For the past 60 years,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Search and Rescue helicopters have been flying the skies above Wales.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11These life-saving aircraft have rescued
0:02:11 > 0:02:14thousands of people in the Welsh mountains and seas.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20On 24th September 1975,
0:02:20 > 0:02:25the AgustaWestland Sea Kings Mark 3 came into service.
0:02:25 > 0:02:3035 years on, she still commands the respect of all who fly in her.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37She's an old aircraft, but she does everything that we want of her.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41She's a lovely old dear.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43She's been around a long time.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45You've got to be very gentle with her, but equally,
0:02:45 > 0:02:46she can take a lot of stick.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Wherever you put her, she will adapt and she will deal with it.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53I have so much respect for her.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56Certain blokes have love affairs with cars, I think.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Some aircrew have love affairs with the Sea King.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Yes, it is getting a bit old and it doesn't have long left, but I'm sure
0:03:04 > 0:03:05the people that have been
0:03:05 > 0:03:11rescued by it over the years will be forever grateful for its abilities.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Snowdonia. It's familiar stomping ground for the Sea King.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Today, a Sea King from RAF Valley responds to
0:03:21 > 0:03:23a call for help from the mountains.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29The casualty is on Crib Goch.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38This is Rescue 122. We are arriving on the scene. Over.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43One of Snowdonia's most dangerous mountains
0:03:43 > 0:03:44has claimed another victim.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Rescue 122 has been called to Crib Goch,
0:03:48 > 0:03:53a 3,000ft-high ridge leading to the summit of Snowdon.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00It's territory that's very familiar to radar operator
0:04:00 > 0:04:01Squadron Leader Dave Taylor.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Some of the issues with Crib Goch is there's a steep drop either side.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09The consequences of getting it wrong are quite severe.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12The actual environment there,
0:04:12 > 0:04:16the rocks and things like that, it's not going to be a nice area.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18People quite often take tumbles,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21because it's a severe slope that won't hold people.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26A 10ft fall might end up in a 30 or 40ft tumble.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32And the injuries there can be quite severe from that.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Down low, 3 o'clock. A group.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38- One of them is definitely in a red jacket.- I can see someone.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42They've spotted the casualty.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Five people are perched on the ridge of Crib Goch
0:04:46 > 0:04:48with a 1,000ft drop below them.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52One of them has a suspected broken ankle.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56On their mobile phones, they film the Sea King arrive.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08In such a hostile place, the helicopter has no place to land.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10The only option is to use the Sea King's winch.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Radar operator Dave now needs to manoeuvre winchman Dave McDowell
0:05:16 > 0:05:17down to the casualty.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22It's a tricky operation on Crib Goch's steep slopes.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Your concern, as a winch operator, for the winchman is paramount
0:05:26 > 0:05:29in terms of where you're going to place him
0:05:29 > 0:05:32and whether he can actually come off the hook at that stage.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35You're looking at a very, very steep area.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37You don't want to just put the winchman on a place,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41he comes off the hook and then he falls himself, and becomes a casualty.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45The Sea King is uniquely designed to be almost stationary
0:05:45 > 0:05:47in the air during a rescue operation.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Buffeted by strong winds, over 3,000ft in the air,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55the helicopter's powerful engines make sure the aircraft
0:05:55 > 0:05:57hardly moves during the hover.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05From this stable platform, the crew can place the winchman
0:06:05 > 0:06:08with pinpoint accuracy on the slopes below.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Hi, guys, all right?
0:06:16 > 0:06:19I'll be very careful not to stand on your foot.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22David Bland from Northamptonshire is in severe pain.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28He tripped and fell on his way down from the summit of Snowdon.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30That's it. Righto.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34Push it to the side, under his knee, under his knee. That's it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Winchman Dave McDowell suspects he has a broken ankle
0:06:39 > 0:06:44and tries to give him morphine. But it's so cold, he can't find a vein.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Let's have a look for that pump.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50He needs to get this casualty on board the helicopter quickly
0:06:50 > 0:06:51to help control his pain.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56It's a precarious spot, and too dangerous to use a stretcher.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Bring it together a little bit closer.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Dave McDowell straps him firmly into the harness,
0:07:01 > 0:07:05and the Sea King winches him on board.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32David Bland is on his way to Bangor's Ysbyty Gwynedd.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36That's literally torn it.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39His friends will continue their journey down the mountain by foot.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41They're brilliant things, aren't they?
0:07:43 > 0:07:47On board, the gas and air helps to ease his pain.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50It's at times like these that a radar operator's job is not
0:07:50 > 0:07:54just about working the winch. A little TLC goes a long way.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58'I call it "bedside manner".'
0:07:58 > 0:08:02It's reaching out to that person and making them feel comfortable,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05make them smile a little bit, perhaps,
0:08:05 > 0:08:07'and try and forget the issue that they've had.'
0:08:11 > 0:08:14X-rays later show that David Bland had broken both his tibia
0:08:14 > 0:08:17and fibula in his leg. After surgery,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20he was discharged from Bangor Hospital three days later.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Back on base, and it's time for the Sea King to have a health check.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37We've got a fleet of engineers who work pretty tirelessly
0:08:37 > 0:08:39to keep these things going.
0:08:41 > 0:08:42I've got it, I've got it!
0:08:42 > 0:08:46The engineers do a fantastic job of keeping her airborne.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49The maintenance work they do is essential,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52and they do a fantastic job of keeping us flying.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Fewer callouts at night mean the engineers have time to work
0:08:56 > 0:08:59on the five Sea Kings in the hangar.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02All the aircraft components have a lifespan based on
0:09:02 > 0:09:03the number of hours flown.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06From gearboxes to rivets, everything is checked.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Yeah, it is late hours, early hours of the morning.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17When it gets to witching hour, 3 o'clock, it does get tiring.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21It's quite nice being involved as well,
0:09:21 > 0:09:26thinking that you do actually help somebody that needs the service.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Sometimes the smallest piece of equipment can mean
0:09:32 > 0:09:35the difference between life and death on a rescue.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38All the specialist gear used by the crews
0:09:38 > 0:09:40is cared for by the survival equipment fitters,
0:09:40 > 0:09:42or the "squippers" for short.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48The majority of the work is caused by the Mark 4 rescue harness,
0:09:48 > 0:09:52which the winchman sits in when he gets winched down on the winch.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55He puts his legs through the bottom loops...
0:09:56 > 0:10:00..which are attached to the winch via a carabiner,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03but it's called a single-point-of-contact carabiner,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05which has been tested purely for winch work.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09It's not used for anything else. It's used purely for the winchman.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12A tiny piece of kit like that, that's probably, out of all
0:10:12 > 0:10:16the equipment, that gets lovingly taken care of the most.
0:10:16 > 0:10:17It gets washed in disinfectant,
0:10:17 > 0:10:19whereas the rest are just cleaned in water.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Without the engineers working here,
0:10:24 > 0:10:26everybody who works with us as part of the team,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28the aircraft would never get off the ground.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30And I think the aircrew appreciate that.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36All the aircraft have been serviced and are all ready to go.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46The Sea King is equipped to deal with most of the challenges posed
0:10:46 > 0:10:50by the Welsh landscape, and it's not just on mountains and coastline.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55It can be called to the most unexpected places.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Another day, another castle, and this time it's Caernarfon.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07A mediaeval fortress can prove treacherous to modern-day tourists.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Rescue 122 is called out to a damsel in distress
0:11:14 > 0:11:17in one of the turrets at Caernarfon Castle.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22If it's what it sounds like, it should be a quick, easy job.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- You never know.- You never know.
0:11:28 > 0:11:29There she is.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36On their mobile phones,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39the tourists capture the unfolding drama at the castle.
0:11:39 > 0:11:45The police and the other emergency services are already on the scene.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48A 57-year-old woman has slipped down a spiral staircase
0:11:48 > 0:11:50in one of the towers.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53It's too dangerous to take her back down to the waiting ambulance,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55so the Sea King is called.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Radar operator on the rescue is Graeme Livingston.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06It was one of those jobs where it would have been
0:12:06 > 0:12:10five, six, seven hours to extract her down the stairs,
0:12:10 > 0:12:14but the risks made sense
0:12:14 > 0:12:17that we would get her on board the aircraft and get her to hospital.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20I think I can see the casualty.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25These are all the firemen and the people down there.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28She's lying on the walkway on a stretcher.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34The nine-ton helicopter has to carefully manoeuvre around
0:12:34 > 0:12:38the high turrets and steep castle walls to reach the casualty.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40But that's not the only problem.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44We were initially thinking, "How are we going to get in here?"
0:12:44 > 0:12:48And probably there's going to be a vast amount of people
0:12:48 > 0:12:51that are going to be on walls and on turrets and things like that.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54The Sea King is one of the biggest aircraft
0:12:54 > 0:12:56in the RAF's fleet of helicopters.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Due to its size, it's creating
0:12:59 > 0:13:02a 30mph-strong downdraught from its blades.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08The tourists on the narrow parapets are now in danger.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11There's an old person in red jacket who needs to move out of the way.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13I'll gesticulate in a second.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16'It's very difficult to actually tie in where we're going'
0:13:16 > 0:13:19to have to actually sit to carry out the rescue.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23And then have a risk assessment of how many people or where
0:13:23 > 0:13:25they are in proximity to that column of air,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29'because it's gale force, and it can knock people off their feet.'
0:13:34 > 0:13:37The area that we're going to put Bestie on is at the close end,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41low 2 o'clock, this side of the main gate.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46With the area cleared, the winchman is lowered down to the casualty.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Over the side. Steady.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Clear of the harness. Winching to the area.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Steady. Steady.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04'The pilot is working hard to maintain the hover.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07'I'm continually telling him, even if we don't have to move,
0:14:07 > 0:14:11'if we're in a good area, then I'll continually be telling him,'
0:14:11 > 0:14:14"Steady, steady, steady," in a nice calm manner.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19But I'm also looking around all the time, making sure
0:14:19 > 0:14:22we haven't sunk towards the castle, that the tail
0:14:22 > 0:14:25hasn't moved towards any of the turrets and things like that.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26Steady.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Casualty on. Winchman on. Winchman in.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Clear of the ground.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35With a suspected broken ankle,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38the casualty is winched to the safety of the Sea King.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Next stop is the local hospital,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43only a few minutes' flight away at Bangor.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49I think the main thing about the Sea King and the Search and Rescue Force
0:14:49 > 0:14:54is really the flexibility and the diversity of the aircraft.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59It's a large platform but we can really squeeze it
0:14:59 > 0:15:03into some pretty small places.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08And then we just fly away from the area, job done.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18The RAF Search and Rescue Force has 12 Sea Kings at its disposal,
0:15:18 > 0:15:20always on standby to answer a cry for help.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Hundreds of pilots have earned their wings flying the iconic aircraft.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30It's been a reliable, reliable helicopter
0:15:30 > 0:15:32in my time with it,
0:15:32 > 0:15:34and it's got me out of some fairly hairy situations.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37It's got me into them as well, but it's got me out again,
0:15:37 > 0:15:38so I can't complain too much.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41As an experienced Search and Rescue captain,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45Flight Lieutenant Dave Prochera-Best often mentors other pilots.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Today, he's on a training exercise in Snowdonia
0:15:49 > 0:15:52with Flight Lieutenant William Wales
0:15:52 > 0:15:54who qualified as a captain six months ago.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59There's a number of guys who've been extremely good
0:15:59 > 0:16:01and given up their time for me
0:16:01 > 0:16:06and helped pass on experience and knowledge from more senior pilots.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09I've been really fortunate that I have been able to provide
0:16:09 > 0:16:12the benefit of my experience to some of the more junior captains.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15From being a co-pilot who is all over his role,
0:16:15 > 0:16:18you suddenly jump into very big shoes where it's your call,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22life and death, not only for the crew, but also for the casualty.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24So you do make some pretty big calls,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26and that dawned on me pretty quick after doing it.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28The training is built towards that
0:16:28 > 0:16:31so it's not such a big leap when you finally get captaincy.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33He's come from a very strong background where
0:16:33 > 0:16:37decision-making is his forte, and I think compared to
0:16:37 > 0:16:40other junior captains, that part was never an issue for him.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44He's also blessed with a decent pair of hands for flying as well,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47so the amount of work that he puts in
0:16:47 > 0:16:49and his background in decision-making makes him
0:16:49 > 0:16:52a pretty strong captain, and he was a good candidate all along.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02After 17 years of service, Dave is to hang up his helmet
0:17:02 > 0:17:04and leave his job.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07He's emigrating to Canada to fly Search and Rescue helicopters
0:17:07 > 0:17:09with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14My wife and I have always wanted to work abroad and see
0:17:14 > 0:17:17more of the world. To be offered the opportunity to carry on
0:17:17 > 0:17:21Search and Rescue that's so closely aligned to what I do already -
0:17:21 > 0:17:25they even have yellow helicopters, which is a huge boon -
0:17:25 > 0:17:28was just too much of an opportunity to miss.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31On his final shift, the crew bid farewell
0:17:31 > 0:17:33in the typical Search and Rescue tradition.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Interestingly enough, and rather amusingly, he forgot to ask
0:17:37 > 0:17:40how long some of their search jobs are, and we found out from
0:17:40 > 0:17:44the commanding officer that a search of about two weeks
0:17:44 > 0:17:47is sometimes normal. So he's going to enjoy that.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51'He'll have a great time there. He's been a great guy. He's very experienced.'
0:17:51 > 0:17:53THEY CHEER
0:17:55 > 0:17:57HE MUTTERS
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Back at the RAF family quarters in Valley,
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Dave and wife Jennine prepare for their big move.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Search and Rescue has been a big part of their lives,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10with its highs and lows.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13When you hear the helicopter go in the middle of the night,
0:18:13 > 0:18:18- that's a bit worrying, but I'd rather know the truth.- Yeah.- Warts and all.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21Because then you can appreciate it.
0:18:21 > 0:18:22I know I'm not in that situation,
0:18:22 > 0:18:27but I would always encourage you to tell me as much as you could.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33And there's one particular rescue that brought the couple closer together.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37We'd come off a particularly hairy rescue.
0:18:37 > 0:18:38I'd not been doing it very long,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41and as a result of saving this ice climber,
0:18:41 > 0:18:46we ended up going into cloud in the Devil's Kitchen,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49in icing, and eventually the helicopter iced up
0:18:49 > 0:18:53and fell out of the sky without us able to do anything at all, really.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00As the helicopter fell from the sky,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03the Sea King sent out this dramatic Mayday message.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05- RECORDING:- 'Mayday, Mayday.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08'This is Rescue 122. Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.'
0:19:10 > 0:19:12I honestly thought, "We're about to die."
0:19:14 > 0:19:15That's the closest I've been.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19'Heavy icing. Heavy icing. Uncontrolled descent.'
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Fortunately, we fell out of the cloud
0:19:23 > 0:19:25and the ice cleared before we hit the ground,
0:19:25 > 0:19:28and we managed to get ourselves to Bangor Hospital and shut down.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30It was pretty traumatic for everyone,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32and my first thought was to phone Jennine.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36It wasn't a phone call that you relish receiving.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40- Unpleasant.- Yeah, absolutely.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Not one you ever want to sort of receive on a regular basis,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45or worse for that matter.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53After difficult rescues,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56the crews often turn to their loved ones for support.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59On his latest rescue, winchman Ed Griffiths had to turn
0:19:59 > 0:20:03to his wife after a particularly dangerous operation.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06I waited till we got back to the base,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08then I phoned home straightaway.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11"Just done another scary one." And my wife, as she always says,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14she goes, "Oh, God. What have you done this time?!"
0:20:17 > 0:20:19It was one of the trickier ones that I've done here.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Rescue 122 has been called to one of the most infamous mountains
0:20:25 > 0:20:27in the Ogwen Valley -
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Tryfan.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33It's a daunting challenge for the Sea King,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36because snow and ice are major hazards for the helicopter.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Up there, because the snow had been falling, it was icy conditions,
0:20:43 > 0:20:45so there was ice with fresh snow packed on top,
0:20:45 > 0:20:50and conditions underfoot were quite slippery and these four guys
0:20:50 > 0:20:53had quite sensibly clipped themselves onto the side of the mountain.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57It's 10 o'clock at night.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01The Sea King's powerful searchlight reveals four lost climbers
0:21:01 > 0:21:02on the steep rock face.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05The young students from Liverpool University
0:21:05 > 0:21:07have been stranded for six hours.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09They're not injured.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14But the atrocious weather means the Sea King is struggling.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18The crew have to decide if they're able to carry on with the rescue.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25The problems that we were facing, the reasons why we were
0:21:25 > 0:21:28considering aborting the rescue, were, first of all,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32the cloud that was coming down, so we thought we may enter into cloud,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35and we didn't have the option of escaping through the cloud,
0:21:35 > 0:21:38because the helicopter would have just frozen up and potentially,
0:21:38 > 0:21:40in the worst case, dropped out of the sky.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44'We were in heavy snow, so the visibility was being reduced,
0:21:44 > 0:21:48'and also we have limits, because what can happen is the air that
0:21:48 > 0:21:51'goes into the engines, those intakes can get clogged up with snow,
0:21:51 > 0:21:54'so we have time limits that we can fly in those snowy conditions,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57'so all these things we were weighing up at the time
0:21:57 > 0:22:00'and trying to get the balance right, risk versus reward.'
0:22:00 > 0:22:03I think if you tuck in a little bit closer,
0:22:03 > 0:22:05the rope will not affect them...
0:22:05 > 0:22:09The crew decide it's an acceptable risk and carry on with the rescue.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12They've come up with an escape plan.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16By increasing their altitude, the helicopter can fly away safely
0:22:16 > 0:22:18if the rescue becomes too dangerous.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22But that means that winchman Ed now has to be lowered down
0:22:22 > 0:22:25150 feet to rescue the stranded climbers.
0:22:44 > 0:22:49'It can be scary, and essentially, you do get scared at times.'
0:22:49 > 0:22:51You think, "I wish I wasn't here, I wish I was at home."
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Ed reaches the four stranded climbers.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00He sends the first two up on the winch
0:23:00 > 0:23:03while he stays on the rockface with the other two.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14The first two climbers reach the safety of the Sea King,
0:23:14 > 0:23:18but now the weather has deteriorated even further.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19In blizzard conditions,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23the Sea King's spotlight is being reflected by the snow.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26The pilot is flying blind.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29At that point, the weather got bad again.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31The pilot lost the escape at that point.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35We're in downdraughting air, we're in turbulent air,
0:23:35 > 0:23:41so we're pulling a lot of power, but because our escape's gone,
0:23:41 > 0:23:45the safer place to be at that point is sticking with the cliffs.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50'Certainly for me, as the rad-op, when we're that close to the cliffs
0:23:50 > 0:23:52'and we're in turbulent air,'
0:23:52 > 0:23:56it does concentrate the mind somewhat and get the heart rate going.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00"We're here now, let's get them and let's get out of there."
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Rescue 122 has to leave as soon as it can.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07The pilot contacts Ed over the radio.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11If you want to drop these lads off, I'm happy to wait here.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Happy to pick you up, Ed.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18To save time, they'll winch up three people at once.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24- Do you want a triple?- Yeah. - There's these lads and me.- Triple.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29- OK, if you're happy, I'll leave the bags.- Yeah, defo.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31It's only in extreme rescues such as this one
0:24:31 > 0:24:34that a triple winch is ever attempted.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39'The hoist is proved to lift 600lbs, so that's our limit.'
0:24:39 > 0:24:42I know, unfortunately, because I've weighed myself on the scales,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45that I'm a little bit heavier than 200lbs,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48so I weigh about 240, 250lbs in all my kit.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52I'm also faced with two adult guys who also have their kit.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54We're very close to that 600lb limit.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58'So we left the bags behind, clipped all three of us on,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00'just to expedite the rescue,'
0:25:00 > 0:25:01and we did a triple lift,
0:25:01 > 0:25:04which we only use in extremis, when we need to just get out of there.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12On a steel wire no thicker than a pencil,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Ed and the two survivors are winched up to the Sea King.
0:25:19 > 0:25:24A technical problem with the aircraft at that point is almost unthinkable.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28It would be really tricky to recover from something like that,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31so you have got to trust our engineers.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34We've got a great set of engineers who maintain the aircraft.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Every now and again, there's a little element of crossing fingers,
0:25:40 > 0:25:44but I trust the winch, I trust the kit and I trust the crew.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54'So when it's all over, there is that massive sense of relief,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58'and you do get that sort of cathartic effect that'
0:25:58 > 0:26:01you've achieved something, a sense of well-being.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07At last, the Sea King can fly away with four grateful survivors
0:26:07 > 0:26:10and a very relieved winchman on board.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12- Just to confirm, we've got four then, yeah?- We have.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16The Sea King lands at the Ogwen Mountain Rescue Base
0:26:16 > 0:26:19where the four university students warm up and are fed.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Back at RAF Valley, Ed's first thought is to call home.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35And I usually at that point phone home as well, just to have a chat.
0:26:38 > 0:26:44I get told off by her for doing scary jobs. But she's used to it.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48Once again, the Sea King has proved
0:26:48 > 0:26:51it really is the ultimate search and rescue machine.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56It has its quirks. You know, it breaks fairly often,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58it needs a lot of engineering,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01but it kind of makes you fall in love with it more,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03because it's got character, so yeah,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05it's a fantastic aircraft to work on.
0:27:05 > 0:27:06I love it - absolutely love it.
0:27:09 > 0:27:10After 30 years of service,
0:27:10 > 0:27:14it's now time for the AgustaWestland Sea King to retire.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19In 2016, the Sea King will be replaced by a more modern helicopter,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22under plans for a new Search and Rescue service
0:27:22 > 0:27:24which won't involve the RAF.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29It's the end of an era for the iconic yellow helicopter.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34It's not flashy. It's not the sports car of the helicopter world.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38It's the broken-down old minivan, but it's got all the tools you need
0:27:38 > 0:27:41in it, and it's always there when you require it.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47She's very old now. She's been around a very long time.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50She's been a fantastic servant to everyone.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53There won't be any more yellow Sea Kings flying around,
0:27:53 > 0:27:57which for me personally, emotively, it's very sad to see her go.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00She's been, like I said, a fantastic servant,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03and it just focuses the mind a bit
0:28:03 > 0:28:06when you think you may never see that yellow Sea King again.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08The thing that makes it most capable, though,
0:28:08 > 0:28:09is the aircrew and engineers that fly it.
0:28:18 > 0:28:24# Some day you might find your hero
0:28:26 > 0:28:32# Some say you might lose your mind
0:28:33 > 0:28:37# I'm keeping my head down now for the summer
0:28:37 > 0:28:41# I'm out of my mind but pour me another
0:28:41 > 0:28:47# I'm going to take that tiger outside for a ride... #
0:28:49 > 0:28:52Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd