Rescue Crew
Stewart Bailey
What made you join the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service?
It is the pinnacle of Surf Life Saving. When I started, I had been driving and instructing IRB and Jet Rescue Boat crews for a number of years. Plus I had always had an interest in aviation. It’s the perfect combination.
What has been your most rewarding experience being involved in the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service?
Being apart of a close knit team that really does make the difference between life and death. I’ve been apart of a crew which has performed many interesting rescues over land and water. It’s every member of the team that does a rescue not an individual.
What has been the toughest mission you have been on?
The toughest day would have been a search for survivors of a plane crash in the Blue Mountains and completing 46 full length winches in strong westerly (turbulent) winds.
What is your favourite rescue story?
When winched down to save two surfers, the 1st one came along easily, the 2nd wanted to argue about keeping his board before being winched from the 15 foot surf. It took a few moments but he finally understood my point of view.
With such a great view from the sky, what has been the most unusual thing that you have seen when on a surveillance flight?
During a search for missing fisherman about 20 km from shore, we sighted something unusual. We flew over to the location and found three large seals swimming along. As we hovered over the top of them, they stopped swimming, rolled onto their backs and with their fins proceeded to wave at us. It cracked everyone up!.
If you could offer the beach going public one piece of advice, what would it be?
Never turn your back on the sea!
