Life and death all in a day’s work for crew

FOR the thousands of people who have been rescued over the years by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in Tasmania, the service is beyond any price tag.

The service, operated by Tasmanian Police, Ambulance Tasmania and Rotor-Lift Aviation with support from the Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust, has just had its partnership with Westpac extended by another five years. The rescue helicopter service has been helping people in need in Tasmania since 2000 and operates 365 days a year from Hobart.

Tania Lockwood said the team was “fantastic” — the service rescued her 15-year-old son, Alex, who became lost in thick bush on a farm near Ross during the March long weekend.

“He became lost in the middle of nowhere. After a fruitless search by family, police were called about 10pm and the helicopter called in to service to do a night search. The service resumed at first light and my son was found,” Mrs Lockwood said.

“You can’t put a price on what they do, we love them.”

Police rescue team member Chris Williams and Rotor-Lift pilot Dave Clark were on duty.

“It was cold that night and we used night vision goggles. It was great we had a good result,” Mr Williams said.

Sergeant Rod Stacey, who has been with the team since 2001, said the chopper was a chance to give a good service to Tasmania.

“I like my job. It’s a unique role for police officers,” Sgt Stacey said.

The service has completed 2500 missions in the last 18 years, with about 160 missions of varying kinds flown each year, including maritime search and rescue, missing bushwalker rescue and attending motor vehicle accidents.

Rotor-Lift was set up in 2000 by Roger and Allana Corbin. It is almost 12 months since a helicopter conducting a “simulated failure exercise” crashed at Hobart Airport, killing Mr Corbin.