Shine the light

Looking at the topical low coming later in the week, plus the nights closing in, plus the fact that the weather is not like last week, I was fairy relaxed last night that it would be a quiet week. Unfortunately, life had different ideas, and the pager went off at 1940.

The page was to assist the police and LandSAR rescue someone who had slipped down the cliff just north of Elephant point. Our task was not to rescue them but to try to locate them from the water point of view to help the land-based rescue team to find them. The expectation was that it would take time to marshal resources and plan the rescue, but that we could get there relatively quickly from the sea and hopefully locate the casualty, while also giving some assurance that help was on the way and that people were coming.

We had a great turn out from the crew and were launched within 20 minutes, picking up our tender on the way. Probably not needed, but just in case.

Off out to Elephant point which is on the mainland opposite Māori rock. The wind was Easterly and starting to pick up so the sea was a bit lively as we got closer to Māori rock. It was an incoming tide and we were able to find some less lively water in closer to shore when we arrived. However it was dark and so going closer became a bit more challenging.

We were lucky and quickly located the casualty about halfway down the cliff on the North side of Elephant rock. We were able to shine our spotlights on the subject which helped to highlight the casualty's position for the rescue teams.

By communicating with the Ops centre they were then able to coordinate with LandSAR team and guide them onto the casualty, hence they were soon on scene. As the casualty was was not visible from the tracks up on the ridge, we were best placed to let them know when they were getting close.

Once the rescue team was there, we put our spotlights off and returned to Sandspit to wash up and go home. The whole job took one and three quarter hours from launch to return. Good to help out and know that the casualty was located more quickly because of us.

Many Thanks to Bruce R, Rob, Paul P and Don, with Craig from Crew 3. All did a great job, navigating, helming, directing the spotlights and acting as lookouts.

Apologies to Bruce S who was just a little delayed and missed the boat, thanks for turning out.