Only a flight away

The newest addition to the ER24-
Discovery Surf Rescue Medicopter family
went live in Cape Town on the 10th
of December 2009. The Surf Rescue
Medicopter will be used in conjunction
with Lifesaving Western Province
(LWP) and the National Sea Rescue
Institute (NSRI), to enhance
their existing surf
rescue operations in the
Western Cape over the
busy festive season.

The Surf Rescue Medicopter
is crewed by a Base4 pilot,
an ER24 medic, a NSRI paterrer and
a LWP swimmer.
The core focus of their operations is
divided into three main parts (patrol,
rescue and search). They will be patrolling
the coastline on the lookout for
bathers and craft in distress, performing
rescues by deploying appropriate resources
from the Surf Rescue Medicopter
in surf related emergencies, and providing
an aerial view during surf related
search operations.

On the day of the launch, a crowd
gathered at Melkbosstrand beach as
the crews of the Surf Rescue Medicopter
performed a demonstration
of their skills. After the Surf Rescue
Medicopter landed and shut
down, the public took the opportunity
to take photos next to the impressively
branded helicopter.

A basic overview of how the crew
function as a team during a rescue
operation; the pilot will position the
helicopter near the patient, the rescue
swimmer then jumps from the
helicopter with a torpedo buoy, harness
and strop, and
then rescues the patient.
The patterer
then drops the static
line down for the
rescue swimmer to attach himself
and the patient. The patterer is the
“pilot’s eyes” when the helicopter is
hovering over the rescuer and gives
the pilot directions on how to move
the helicopter in regards to the
swimmer below. The helicopter then
lifts the rescuer and patient out the
water and fly to the beach, where
they are then lowered down. The
medic will then initiate medical
treatment if required.

The Surf Rescue Medicopter will
also be deployed along the Hibiscus
Coast.
Numerous rescue simulations will
take place during the course of the
day. The Surf Rescue Medicopter
will also land at strategic places during
the day where the public can
view the helicopter along with the
MGSU (Medicopter Ground Support
Unit) operated by Tristan Wadeley
in the Cape Region.
The Surf Rescue Medicopter will
also standing by at the BMW Polo
on the 29th of December in Kurland.
Another exciting event is the
“Sabrina Love Ocean” Challenge in
Plettenburg Bay on the 27 and 28th
of December. Full emergency medical
services will be provided by the
Surf Rescue and MGSU at these
events.

For any further media information
regarding the Surf Rescue Medicopter,
please contact Tristan Wadeley
on 084 211 2277.
Tristan Wadeley - MGSU Cape Town