Role play became reality for a Northland Electricity rescue helicopter winch operator yesterday.
Winchman Neville Montefiore, who had been taking part in a joint training exercise between the Tutukaka coastguard and Northland Electricity rescue helicopter yesterday morning, got to put his skills to use in the afternoon.
Mr Montefiore was aboard the
helicopter when it was sent to collect an injured crew member from the bulk carrier Bahia Blanca, 56km out from the Poor Knights Islands, about 3.30pm. The man had injured his hand, Mr Montefiore said.
The Bahia Blanca was headed from Australia to Brazil and would not hit land for 22 days.
The training exercise had been to help two new helicopter winch operators gain experience and to train new crew members for the coastguard, Tutukaka Coastguard spokesman Angus Stirling said.
The first two days were spent dropping a hi-line - a weighted line - from the helicopter down to a boat.
Things stepped up yesterday when they got their chance to step out of the helicopter 20 metres above the open ocean and be guided down onto the waiting boat.
"It has been absolutely brilliant, the crew on the boat and the helicopter crew have worked excellently together," Mr Stirling said.
Coastguard volunteers spent most of their days working so it had been a great opportunity for them to hone their skills and prepare. "We have to be preparedfor any eventuality," he said.
St John advanced paramedic Mark Going said the two winch operators had done land and water-based training and boat work was the next step.
