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Image Gallery: April 2009

24 April 2009
Ashmore Reef Recovery Imagery

At around 8:15 am (AEDT) Thursday 16 Apr 09 there was an explosion onboard a suspected illegal entry vessel that was intercepted the previous day in the vicinity of Ashmore Reef. HMA Ships Childers and Albany recovered all survivors from the water.

Medical assistance was rendered by ADF personnel via triage to casualties. Headquarters Northern Command (HQNORCOM) arranged casualty evacuation, supported by the WA and NT State and Commonwealth agencies.

Air Force AP-3C Orion and Customs and Border Protection DASH 8 aircraft conducted a search and rescue operation for two missing persons under the control of Australian Maritime Safety Authority – Rescue Coordination Centre.

The Patrol Boats proceeded to the Front Puffin for casualty evacuation. An AP-3C Orion conducted a box-drop of additional medical supplies to the Patrol Boats. A medical triage facility was established at Truscott Airfield and on the Front Puffin for high priority casualties. Casualties were transferred from the Front Puffin to Truscott by CSC helicopter. At Truscott casualties were again triaged and flown to specialist facilities in Darwin, Broome, Perth or Brisbane for medical treatment.

HMAS Albany was met on arrival in Darwin at 1:30 pm (AEDT) 17 Apr 09 by paramedical and other government agency staff to assist the casualty reception. HMAS Childers arrived in Darwin at 4:30 pm (AEDT).

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Commodore David Gywther, Commander Northern Command, presents a Northern Command crest to Mr Mike Stafford, General Manager of FPSO Front Puffin, in recognition of all the help provided by the workers on the Front Puffin during the incident with Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel 36.

(Date taken: 20 April 2009)
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Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) 36 at sea North of Ashmore Island. 11 minutes prior to incident. HMAS Childers' boarding party embarked. Chief Petty Officer Dean Faunt, boarding officer standing on coach house.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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9 minutes after the incident. on Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) 36 Medical Officer Flight Lieutenant Jo Darby treats a casualty on Childers' quarter deck as a RHIB approaches with survivors.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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9 minutes after incident. on Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) 36, Photo taken from HMAS Childers' port side flag deck looking aft. Medical Officer Flight Lieutenant Jo Darby treats a casualty on Childers' quarter deck.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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15 minutes after the incident on Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) 36, HMAS Albany's RHIB is recovered by Childers to disembark casualties that are unable to walk/climb.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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15 minutes after the incident on Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) 36, HMAS Albany's RHIB is recovered by Childers to disembark casualties that are unable to walk/climb.
Photo shows burning SIEV, HMAS Albany and 3 RHIBs continuing recovery effort.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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46 minutes after the incident. on Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) 36 survivors are treated by Defence personnel.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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46 minutes after the incident on Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) 36, HMAS Albany assists in the medical evacuation as the SIEV continues to burn.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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Seaman Cryptographic Technician Jake Masterman comforts a casualty from Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel (SIEV) 36. Seaman Masterton remained with the casualty until he was transferred off HMAS Childers several hours later.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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HMAS Childers is underway to execute casulty evacuation. Temporary shade is rigged over casualties as the Quarter deck is being utillised as medical treatment area.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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Medical Officer Flight Lieutenant Jo Darby and Corporal Sharon Jager (foreground) treat survivors on HMAS Childers' quarter deck.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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HMAS Childers' approaches FSPO Front Puffin, Childers RHIB heads to recover supplementry medical supplies dropped by RAAF AP3-C maritime patrol aircraft.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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A RAAF AP3-C maritime patrol aircraft conducts helibox drop of supplementry medical supplies for HMA Ships Childers and Albany.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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HMAS Childers alongside Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, Front Puffin. A crane swings over Childers to embark ADF medical staff to Front Puffin.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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HMAS Childers alongside Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, Front Puffin. A Crane transfers casualty from Childers.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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The area under flight deck of Front Puffin is utilised to treat casualties awaiting aero medical evacuation. Front Puffin personnel in orange overalls.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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Executive Officer HMAS Childers, Lieutenant Alfonso Santos, bandages casualty under the direction of medical officer Flight Lieutenant Jo Darby onboard Front Puffin.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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Rescue helicopter arrives at Front Puffin to transfer casualties to Truscott Air Base in Kalumburu, Western Australia. Helo delivered 8 additional doctors to assist medical effort.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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At 17:58 first rescue helicopter embarks casualties for medical evacuation from Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, Front Puffin.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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At 18:05 Front Puffin personnel assist casualties to flight deck for evacuation by helicopter.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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Photo taken looking down on medical staging and treatment area on Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, Front Puffin.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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Photo taken looking down on medical stanging and treatment area on Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, Front Puffin.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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HMAS Childers alongside Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, Front Puffin. 4 casualties remain on port side quarter deck awaiting evacuation.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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HMAS Childers alongside Front Puffin. 4 casualties remain on port side quarter deck under blue awning awaiting evacuation.
Childers personnel engage in sanatising quarter deck.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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Defence personnel return to HMAS Childers following evacuation of all casualties to Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, Front Puffin. Aero medical evacuation of casualties continues.

(Date taken: 16 April 2009)
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