Helicopter rescue of sailor off Tasmanian coast

by Rob Kothe on 17 Apr 2006 Rescuers plucked an injured solo sailor from his 10 metre sloop Deseado off the Tasmanian coast by helicopter early Easter Sunday morning. Rescue services became aware the sailor, who was sailing from Tasmania to New Zealand, was in trouble about 1.10am.

130 miles north, north east of Bicheno on Tasmania's east coast, he had set off his EPIRB beacon after his yacht was damaged when it did a 360 roll in rough seas and he suffered neck injuries.

In need of medical assistance, the sailor activated his emergency 406 EPIRB equipment and HF radio contact was made, initially via New Zealand.

Australian Search and Rescue in Canberra then alerted Tasmanian rescue authorities. The Tasmania Police vessel Van Dieman was diverted from Flinders Island to the rescue area, but later withdrawn as helicopter assets were available.

The Westpac Rescue helicopter left Hobart about 5.30am and after refuelling in St Helens, it headed out to sea and reached the yacht at 7:50am.

The rescue was conducted in extremely dangerous and hazardous conditions and was completed in a total of 11 minutes.

Tasmania Police Sen-Constable Rod Stacey was winched about 50m from the specially equipped Kawasaki twin-engine BK 117 Rescue Helicopter into seven-to eight-metre-high waves.

Constable Stacey was winched from the helicopter into the water beside the stricken yacht.

The sailor, jumped into the water beside his rescuer, who hooked him up to a rescue harness. They were pushed underwater a number of times as waves broke over them.

The pair was winched back up to the helicopter as it battled to stay stationary in 40-knot winds.

They flew to Bicheno where they refuelled and paramedics checked on the sailor. The 53 year old sailor from Oyster Cove near Hobart, was airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital with minor cuts and abrasions and suspected chest injuries. His condition is currently described as stable.