Medivac at Sea on the 913

“Ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. A Canadian Military Aircraft will be approaching the vessel.  Prepare to be boarded.”

The date was July 13, 2019, and we were returning from a spectacular trip to Alaska. Cruising along Vancouver Island aboard the 4000 passenger Norwegian Bliss, bound for Victoria, we had one more adventure ahead of us…and it was not on the itinerary.

“Serving as a Canadian Search and Rescue helicopter,” the captain continued, “it will arrive in about 15 minutes. A short time ago, one of our passengers had a medical emergency. Our medical staff has determined that in order to save this passenger’s life, it is necessary to perform a medical evacuation”.

While my concern for the passenger ignites, I don’t recall seeing a helipad on the ship.   

“During the evacuation, the helicopter will hover near the bow of the ship and a search and rescue technician will board the ship to prepare the patient for evacuation.  During this time, the ship will not stop.  We will continue to maintain our current course and speed.”  

How the heck is that even possible, I thought as I grabbed my camera gear. I had not seen any grizzlies to photograph in Alaska, but my Sony A73 with the 150-600 would hopefully be put to good use today. I grabbed a spare battery and headed to the port side cabin balcony.  

I soon had eyes on the yellow-bellied heli, with a crew full of courage. It was about a half-mile out. As it approached, our ship continued plowing through the saltwater on a steady course. I continued to wonder how these two machines could engage in motion without conflict.

After circling the ship, the helicopter—a CH-149 Cormorant with the 442 squadron—maneuvered toward the front of the ship and momentarily out of my view. I scurried between my family’s two cabins, hoping one of the balconies would provide a good vantage point. Upon returning to the port side, I froze in amazement as the technician dangled from the cable like a worm on a hook, ready to be devoured by a fish, or the massive Bliss below. The technician disappeared behind my balcony wall. All I could do was hope for the best.  Moments later, the aircraft retreats, without the technician.

Once the medical evacuee was prepped, The 913 returned to action. The pilot steadily maneuvered the aircraft just off the port bow. A moving ship, a hovering aircraft, and a crowd of passengers tense with suspense gathered on their balconies. I had only ever seen a scene like this on the big screen, with popcorn and a soda. Now I was in the middle of a real-life action thriller and the tension was building. As the helicopter inched closer to the port bow, I suddenly wondered if a gust of wind or twitch of the stick could cause the helicopter to clip the edge of the cruise liner?”  I glanced toward the cabin to be sure I had a clear safety route. 

With lives on the line, that cable once again dangled from the 913. The flight engineer began to hoist the critically ill passenger in the basket stretcher off the deck of the ship. For a few moments, the evacuee dangled in the breeze outside the helicopter. Again, a tantalizing bait to be devoured by the ship or the sea below. 

Fascinated by what I just witnessed, I continued to capture the dramatic evacuation and rescue with my camera.  As I snapped the shutter, I felt like a little kid, smiling with pride and wonder. You know…the kid in the comic books that just watched his favorite action hero save the day before flying off into the sunset.

Looking back through my photos as the time that has passed, I recall how impressed I was by this crew. As an American, I’m sure glad we have such skilled Canadian friends at the ready. They are of course not superhuman comic book heroes.  They can only complete such skillful and harrowing rescues after hundreds of hours of training, flights, PT, drills, and constant teamwork. Season that with a little blood and sweat, maybe even a few tears, while performing mission after mission and you have the recipe for what it takes to serve on SAR Team.  

Revisiting these photos, I wanted to find the crew in order to share the memory of this day in appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice. I’m sure they have executed hundreds of life-saving missions since that day; and what to me is utterly amazing, is likely just another day at the office for them. Still, I hope sharing these moments will spark a good memory, of good work, and a good team…on a day worth remembering. 

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