Herc in rescue

By CPL Damian Shovell

EIGHT people were plucked from a sinking fishing vessel off the coast of Mackay after a C-130J directed rescuers to the scene. The Hercules from No. 37 Squadron was conducting training in the area when the crew detected an emergency beacon signal.

Flight Lieutenant Sean Winckel said the crew immediately alerted Australian Search and Rescue (AUSSAR), which requested they track and locate the source of the signal.

“Using our onboard equipment we were able to track the beacon to its location 50-60km offshore where we found a distressed vessel that we contacted on the maritime frequency,” he said.

“The captain informed us in broken English that his vessel had eight people onboard and was slowly sinking – we had further trouble determining what safety equipment they had on board.”

The information was relayed through air traffic control to AUSSAR, which asked the crew to liaise with a freighter about 20-30 nautical miles away and coordinate the rescue. “We approached the freighter and passed on the latitude and longitude and organised their approach to the distressed vessel,” FLTLT Winckel said.

“We then returned back to the distressed vessel whose radio was at that stage beginning to fail and relayed the rescue plan to the captain.”

Once the safety of the people aboard the boat was established, the crew continued on their training flight to Tamworth.

FLTLT Winckel said the rescue had proved to be an excellent real-time training activity and the flight crew of Flight Lieutenant Chris McBurnie
(aircraft captain), Squadron Leader Kev Bruce, Flying Officer Shaun Wilkinson, Warrant Officer John Pawliw and himself were glad to have been able to offer assistance.

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