Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service crewman Michael (Mick) Kerry has dangled from a helicopter near cliff faces to rescue people in trouble. He’s winched injured firefighters to safety in the recent bushfires - and been out on night missions, wearing infrared goggles to help save lives. It’s a job he loves, and he’s been doing it for most of his life.

Mick is one of the helicopter service’s longest serving crewmen and he tells The Lismore App about his experiences with this invaluable service that has touched the lives of so many. 

“I remember the first rescue when I was on my own in the aircraft,” he said. “It was in the late 1980s and a spear fisherman at Broken Head was hit by a large wave on isolated rocks and had a spear lodged in his thigh. 

“In those days, we didn’t have a winch in the helicopter, and I had to be lowered down onto the rocks to help old mate get stabilised and lift him on to a board. Another lifesaver paddled out onto the rocks and the two of us got him to the beach to wait for an ambulance.

“As a young person, it was exciting for me.”

Beginnings

Mick was 18 when he became a volunteer crew member of the Lismore-based Rescue Helicopter Service. He’d been a volunteer surf lifesaver and professional lifeguard before he found his way in the service in 1985.

It was the early days - the days before there was enough funding to have pilots, paramedics and rescue crew on duty 24/7 – that wouldn’t happen until 1991. 

In fact, Mick said one time, the crew had to hide the helicopter on someone’s farm to stop to the creditors coming to get it, because the service couldn’t afford to pay the monthly lease fee.

“The early days were tough, at times it looked like service wouldn’t survive until community fundraising committees and sponsors like 2LM, Casino Meatworks and Westpac came on board,” Mick said. “We’ve grown steadily, but we are still looking for as much sponsorship as we can get.”

Skills

Mick’s background as a lifesaver made him a good candidate for being a crewman for the helicopter service. As well knowing how to rescue people in the water, his job is to aid the pilot in getting to and from a rescue operation.  

He spent seven years as a volunteer before becoming a paid rescue crewman – over time, growing his skill set and learning to operate the rescue winch from the helicopter, then co-pilot, using the radio and navigation systems.

“The auxiliary skills are so important to learn, so we can get the paramedics to and from an event in an efficient, safe manner,” he said.

“We do a lot of training and work closely with the medical team so we can be confident in winching paramedics and lowering them into trees and bush terrain, or off cliff faces - to help people who’ve gotten stuck in bad areas.”

Crewman Michael Kerry in a training session at cliffs near Boulder Beach being lifted with a patient' to safety.

Dangerous job

Mick said when it comes to doing a potentially dangerous job like this, it’s not because he’s brave.

“I’m just very conscious of managing risk – I’m looking for the safest outcome for everyone,” he said.

“If the weather conditions are maybe too risky, what are the options? 

“A couple of nights ago in torrential rain and with low clouds on the hills, we had a call out. In those low visibility conditions, it can be too hard to find someone – it depends on the location. If it’s someone in a farmhouse, we might not be able to find it - and our medical team might either try by boat, or wait until morning.

Bushfires

“In the bushfires last year, we were working in smoky conditions to get to injured firefighters and often needed approach by going around the back of the fires.

“One firefighter at Rappville burned his arms and we had to move him 3km to another less risky location so he could be picked up.”

With the bushfires and flooding, and the ability of the aircraft to travel further afield to Tenterfield, Armidale and Coffs Harbour, Mick said the service was busier than ever. 

“January is typically our busiest month,” he said. “We had 48 missions – our monthly average is 36. In 2019, we did 478 flights – which is higher than in 2018. 

“The December to January time is busy because people are holidaying and the population in the north east swells.

Accidents

“Unfortunately, we get called out to accidents on the highway, and we are seeing an increase in jobs on the beach. We had three winches from surf beaches in January and one was a motorbiker who was doing 100km on the beach, hit a creek and cartwheeled over the handlebars.”

Being the first to respond to an accident scene can be traumatic, and Mick said the crew regularly debriefs and has counselling.

“We have auxiliary personal we call on in nasty situations to make sure we are also mentally well,” he said. “We have a great team and we all look after each other.”

“My wife is there for me too. I can come home after a busy day and debrief and talk about the highs and lows.

 “She’s been with me through the early days when I used to do a 48 hour continuous roster. That was hard for her, bringing up the kids when I wasn’t there.”

These days, Mick works four days on and four days off in 12 hour shifts, from 7am-7pm for two days, then two night shifts.

Mick remembers transporting his own brother once.

“He suffered a cerebral bleed,” Mick said. “We are so grateful for what the service provided to him.

Community fundraising

“We are a small community here, and everyone has a link to the helicopter service - and it gives us an ownership of it.

“Many people know someone who has been helped by it – and that’s why the community reaches out to help us. 

“The Lions Clubs and Rotary have been fundraising for us for over 30 years, as well as small community groups and businesses.”

Mick said the fundraising efforts, as well as the ongoing sponsorship was essential to keep the service running. There’s five paramedics, admin staff, engineers, pilots and crewmen, as well as 10 shift working doctors to keep on the books.

Running costs

 “Anything to do with aviation is so expensive and when you tie medicine in, the costs are mind blowing,” he said. 

“A flight helmet costs nearly $5,000 and needs to be customised for each crew member. There are eight of us – pilots and aircrew – and the cost grows when you include the money needed for uniforms and harnesses.

“Maintaining the aircraft is the most expensive cost – just one of the of the five main rotor blades costs $260,000. It’s outrageous, but when you relate that to the number of patients we help, it’s a small price to pay and you can’t put a price on that.”

Mick said in NSW, there are 10 rescue aircraft operating, between bases in Lismore, Newcastle, Tamworth and South Sydney.

“In our northern region, prior to 1981 when the rescue service started up here, if there was an accident, the ambulance service would respond as quickly as they were able,” he said.

“With road conditions, it could take three hours to a Brisbane hospital from Lismore, but now, we can transport a patient with a serious medical condition to the Gold Coast by helicopter in 50 minutes. 

“The service really benefits smaller rural hospitals like Bonalbo, Casino and Urbenville – which don’t have the resources Lismore does. 

“We can bring in skilled doctors or ultrasound equipment of the same quality as at Lismore Base, so the smaller villages can get the equivalent care as the trauma units in the bigger hospitals.”

Training

Keeping the service running also requires ongoing training for the crew.  

“As we upgrade the aircraft, we need to train on a flight simulator in Sydney so we can run through any emergencies that could happen in the aircraft,” he said. “It’s something you can’t do in the helicopter because it’s so expensive to run.

“The other training we run is aircraft water rescues, where we train in how to transfer patients on and off boats – winching them in and out of water.

“We also practice night rescues, locating people lost in the bush after dark and wearing night vision goggles.”

Mick said that sometimes, people reach out to the service and sometimes, the people they have helped come back to the base to meet the crew who rescued them.

“It gives you a warm feeling to meet them and they are so thankful and grateful,” he said.

“We don’t always hear end result of our rescues, sometimes it’s just transporting them from the hospital. So, to hear their stories in brilliant.”  

To find out more about the Westpac Rescue helicopter Service, visit http://www.rescuehelicopter.com.au