Complex rescue in Wye Valley requires extreme precision from Coastguard helicopter crew

On Tuesday (15 August), the UK Coastguard ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre) received a call from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust​ requesting assistance in the rescue of a young boy hurt while rock climbing in the Wye Valley.

The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan was sent immediately to the location. The Bristol Filton air ambulance was already on scene, but needed assistance to extract the boy from a narrow ledge in the side of the steep wooded ravine, so had landed next to the river below.  The Severn Area Rescue Association​ (SARA) was also on scene, helping a local ambulance crew to look after him.  The Coastguard helicopter landed at the top of the ravine so that their winchman paramedic, Clive Stevens, could make his way down to the injured boy with a stretcher. The Bristol NHS Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) also attended and supported the Coastguard winchman as he prepared the boy for winching.

The winch extraction through tall trees was extremely difficult, with Coastguard helicopter crew unable to see their winchman, even when directly overhead. The co-pilot, Paul Farmer, flew the rescue from the left hand seat under the direction of winch operator Si Price. The winch hook needed to be lowered through a tiny gap in the tree canopy without getting snagged on branches. Its delivery to the winchman had to be very precise, as Clive could not move from the boy in the stretcher. Once hooked on to the Coastguard helicopter winch hook, the winchman had to direct the winching by radio, telling the crew once the stretcher and then he was off the ground. Only once he and the stretcher were moved towards the gap in the tree canopy could the winch operator see him to lift him carefully up through the trees.

Once Clive and the stretcher were clear of the tree tops, they were carried over the tops of the trees to a clearing at the top of the ravine and placed on the ground while the Coastguard helicopter landed next to them. The Coastguard helicopter then flew down to the bottom of the valley to hand the boy over to the air ambulance doctor for treatment and transfer direct to Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Aircraft Captain, Olly Padbury, said afterwards “All of us were blown away by the boy’s bravery and we wish him a swift recovery.  We often take for granted the skills of our crews. However on this occasion, Paul, Si and Clive each had to fly faultlessly to rescue the boy. Getting Clive up through the hole in the canopy required extremely accurate flying from Paul and the calmest direction from Si. I am extremely proud of how smoothly they managed to execute such a complex rescue. I would also like to commend the collaboration of the air ambulance, SARA and HART that all worked together with us to make this rescue happen.”




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