RAF Seaking rescue on Snowdon

[@davewellscoffee]

Nice video, this was me flying! Started off with some training winching round the back of Snowdon, then we got re-tasked to 2 jobs, one at the station (in this video), then another on the Watkin path. I love the top down view of the Seaking :) Hope we didn't blow any of your stuff away!

[@Garjames1]

+Dave Wells - wow! - Thank you for commenting Dave - Fair play we were all blown away with your skills that day. You and your crew must have nerves of steel flying that close to the cliffs all the time! This has to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life to date. Having you guys hovering above and witnessing this rescue first hand was amazing. I hope the injured persons were ok? did you ever get to meet them afterwards? Our kit was fine - We were up there on a charity walk for Singleton Hospital with our guitars. I sat on the bags! There were too many bits n bobs to grab to get out of the way so I just waited - Luckily I already had my camera out to film it all!

[@davewellscoffee]

+Gareth James - Glad we got to liven up your day! Both casualties were ok when we got to hospital. Sadly we don't often see them again after that. If it's a particularly emotional case (like a young kid or someone we have got talking to for a long time during the rescue) we have friends in the hospital who keep us updated on their recovery. Occasionally people come round to the flight and say thanks, which is really nice too, but there are so many people that you can't keep track of all of them!

[@closecalls6120]

Dave Wells, hello! I am a producer on BBC1s Close Calls: Caught on Camera, a popular daytime show where we document the stories of individuals who have had a close call! Stories are not over dramatised, but instead the show takes a forensic look at what happened, who responded, and what action was taken to bring about a safe outcome for all involved. Many of the contributors who have been involved in dramatic events are keen to take the opportunity to tell their stories and thank those who came to their aid. We are now starting series 5 and I came across this AMAZING footage of the rescue you were involved in. I would love to talk to you about this and see if you are interested in appearing on our show. Can we do that or shall I go through the formal route of contacting the RAF press office? I look forward to hearing from you. All the best Emma Griffiths 023 80710725 [e-mail]

[@johnleigh349]

@@davewellscoffee I ditto your comments on the tasks you and I can say so myself some sad results but some good and rewarding results to ,I remember doing a wet drill in treadur bay where I was the downed ,pilot getting into the liferaft an waiting for the Canary to come an pick me up ( this Nov.brrr ) there was a sarbi alarm in the area so the crew proceeded to the emergency I was left floating around in the bay for some time So eventually I paddled to the road ( a 5 toll ) an waited for recovery 😩 lol you could see the faces on motorists passing,by looking at me in a dayglow wet suit +dinghy waiting for recovery by the (wait for it ) MRT landrover happy days I could go with happy and rewarding memories of my days at 22 sqd at Valley take care you all do a sterling job 👏👏👍

[@iaincphotography6051]

You just have to love "The Paraffin Budgie". Well done guys for all the service you gave to the MRTs.

[@johnleigh349]

Brings back memoirs with the canary (22 sqd. ) 1969 to 71 RAF MRT 👏👏👍

[@jamesahhardy7628]

I've seen one of these fly extremely low over Brean in Somerset in 2008 because of the Pier burning down in Weston-Super-Mare

[@rentaghost]

Top video. I would happily buy all these guys a beer. Nice one CaMORON for axing the Sea KIngs. Great move. Will civilian helicopter pilots risk life and limb to save lives?

[@darthwidget5035]

I realise that this comment is 2 years old now, but nonetheless as the son of a civillian search and rescue pilot operating in the north sea even before the Sea Kings were decommisioned I can indeed confirm that they will risk life and limb to save lives. What you are implying is that just because it isn't the military, it will not be as good. Civillian SAR pilots aren't just private licence holders out on a jolly, they are highly trained professionals who are more than aware of the dangers they may face - they signed up for it. My dad was a SAR pilot operating in the north sea, arguably one of the most challenging flying environments there is, (and this is before the seaking decommisioning) so there were already civillian pilots risking their lives to save others, and needless to say there still are.

[@helipeek2736]

Short answer........yes. Long answer..........

[@ultrawiredsounds]

David Cameron will certainly go down as the worst P.M this country has ever had , although Boris Johnson and Theresa May are giving him a close run thing ..

[@jamesrae5351]

The Sea Kings were an old design and overdue for replacement. If you had ever flown in one during SAROPS you would know that they were fairly slow and underpowered. Not exactly the qualities you would normally associate with a successful SAR aircraft.

[@philw9436]

yes it IS awesome !

[@jasonhatton2122]

Really nice