The Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award - Rob Backus

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Awarded to an individual member of a helicopter crew, a complete crew or the crews of multiple helicopters, for an act of outstanding courage or devotion to duty in the course of land or sea search and rescue operations.

On 26 Oct 2017 the crew of HM Coastguard Rescue 912 Humberside Captain Peter Mackenzie-Brown (Commander), Senior First Officer Rob Backus (Co-pilot), Winch Operator Paul Bramley and Winchman/Medic Kate Willoughby were presented with the award at a ceremony in GuildHall.

In October 2015, ‘Rescue 912’ (R912) was tasked by the ARCC Kinloss to proceed to the Lake District to rendezvous with Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Teams at Ambleside MRT base.  ARCC reported that a 24 year-old female hill walker had fallen down a 40m rock face located on Langdale Fell and required immediate extraction and transfer to hospital.

R912 proceeded to Morecombe Bay, where a descent to low altitude was conducted.  Due to very low cloud and poor visibility, two unsuccessful attempts were made to enter the hills to the south of the Lake District region.  R912 was forced to proceed to Blackpool in order to refuel.  A third transit attempt was made via Greenodd Sands and Backbarrow, flying at less than 200 ft in only marginal visibility.  Two hours forty minutes after departure, R912 eventually landed safely at Ambleside MRT base.

The crew were promptly informed by the MRT that the casualty had suffered a severe head and spinal injury, a fracture of her right femur and an open fracture below the left knee.  The on-scene weather conditions were reported as only 50m visibility, calm winds and fading light levels.  Given the life-threatening nature of the casualty’s injuries and the likelihood that she would not survive a protracted stretchered walk off the mountain side, the crew courageously elected to proceed with her rescue.

Via Skelwith Bridge and Elterwater, R912 progressed at low speed and very low level towards Langdale Fell, where the aircraft entered cloud and proceeded to hover-taxi up the mountainside, following a small pathway, to the casualty’s location.  R912 arrived on-scene at 16:30. In fading light, the crew successfully accomplished a very challenging stretcher recovery from under an overhang in a confined area with the aircraft rotor tips only metres from the surrounding crags.  This demanded exacting flying skill and crew cooperation of the highest order.

Unable to achieve a safe climb out, the crew were compelled to hover-taxi using night vision aids in deteriorating light levels and low visibility conditions down the mountainside into Great Langdale Valley.  R912 then proceeded to Lake Windermere and climbed to safety altitude for the on-ward transit to Preston, where the casualty was handed over to the care of Royal Preston Hospital.  Following a further refuel at Blackpool, R912 returned safely to Humberside at 19:40, after a six and a half hour rescue operation.

The operation had the added dimension of having been filmed for the BBC series 'Skies Above Britain' and the fact that the winchman, despite having an extensive background in helicopter operations as a crewman, was at the time relatively new to Search and Rescue operations.  Throughout the rescue, the crew demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism, commitment and dedication to the task and bravery that exceeds expectation and is deserving of recognition by the award of the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award.[https://www.airpilots.org]

Well done Rob!

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See some video footage of the rescue on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1icV6FUfuAw.  Intro starts at 43:42 and rescue at 47:45

Geoff