Aug. 27, 2004
19 WING COMOX - Captain Brad Steels was awoken this morning by a sound he knew, but took a moment to recognize. And then he immediately jumped out of bed. The sound was the unmistakable buzzing of his pager, which meant that he would be launched for a Search and Rescue mission.
Capt. Steels, a Cormorant pilot, joined the rest of his crew, pilot Capt Troy Kearns, flight engineer Philip Robin, and SAR technicians Sgt. Mike Hurtubise and Master Cpl. Rob Dumonceau, at Hangar 14, 19 Wing Comox, in the early hours of the morning. They quickly prepared for take off and were airborne at 7:30 a.m., on their way to pick up a patient with appendicitis on the cruise ship Celebrity Mercury, which was approximately 180 km northwest off the coast of Port Hardy.
"This was my first operational mission to a cruise ship," said Capt. Steels. "It was great having a role in the rescue, especially in the Cormorant, which is excellent for these types of missions."
Once Capt. Steels and Capt. Kearns were in a hovering position over the aft of the cruise ship, Master Cpl. Dumonceau, SAR leader in this mission, and Sgt. Hurtubise descended via the hoist to the deck. The patient and his wife were both hoisted up to the helicopter and returned safely to 19 Wing Comox, where they were transported by ambulance to St. Joseph's hospital.
"It can be a challenge for the SAR techs and the flight engineer to operate the hoist in the helicopter's downwash," said Capt. Steels. "But, we work as a team and are becoming extremely efficient on this machine, while ensuring the safety of the crew and the patients."
