A Newquay search and rescue team has scooped a prestigious award for a perilous rescue.

Bristow’s Newquay Search and Rescue Helicopter 924 winch crew Jason Bibby and Carlton Real have been presented with the Billy Deacon SAR award for “outstanding performance in dangerous circumstances” during a rescue in 2023.

The team, which is based at Newquay Cornwall Airport, were tasked to reports of a man and a woman who had been cut off by the tide and swept into a cave at Bassetts Cove near Portreath, where they became trapped by rough seas and breaking waves during the evening of May 22, 2023.

Arriving at the scene just six minutes after take-off, the helicopter crew were met by a challenging and confusing situation. They could not see the trapped pair although the local cliff rescue team, who had been attempting to reach them, could hear their cries for help from inside the cave.

The cliff rescue team floated a line into the cave and suddenly the man appeared in the water at the mouth of the cave, gripping onto the rope in the rolling surf.

The cliff rescue began pulling him towards safety, but the relentless, pounding waves dislodged his grip and he lost the line. Seeing the situation suddenly escalate, the helicopter crew, who were hovering overhead, swung into action.

Winch paramedic Real was lowered towards the man, but the nearby cliffs, thrashing surf and poor conditions made the safe winching operation a difficult task for the whole team. The man was being tumbled around, vanishing from view only to reappear in a different location. But with calm and careful teamwork, the crew were finally able to position Real close enough to make contact with him.

But the sea conditions meant Real was being repeatedly engulfed by the waves and submerged in the surf, making it impossible for him to attach a rescue strop to the casualty. Real’s only option was to grab hold of the man and, when he had a firm grip, the helicopter began to tow them both out of the waves toward calmer waters.

However, the waves continued to batter and pound the two and, despite all his efforts, Real’s grip was broken. Thankfully the man was washed close to the cliff rescue team, who managed to grab him and pull him to safety on nearby rocks.

But the event was far from over.

On being winched back to the aircraft, Real, exhausted and suffering from inhaling sea water, was provided with oxygen. As he tried to regain his breathing, reports from the cliff rescue team came in that the casualty was deteriorating rapidly and needed to be rushed to the hospital. Without consideration for his own condition, Real immediately volunteered to be lowered down again to bring the casualty onboard so he could be flown to the hospital for emergency care.

Real carried out a textbook winch transfer, and soon the man was enroute to the hospital. Real was also assessed by the team and, clearly in need of medical attention, he too was transferred to an ambulance on arrival at the local emergency department.

The crew of Rescue 924 were replaced at the scene by another helicopter, however the remaining casualty couldn’t be reached and, as their cries stopped, rescuers feared the worse. It was not until several hours later, as the tide receded, that they were able to reach her. She was still alive and was rapidly flown to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence presented Jason Bibby and Carlton Real with their awards at the Air League’s Annual Reception Ceremony, which was held at the House of Commons on November 19.

They were joined at the ceremony by Captain Jörg Brunner and Captain Debdash Bhattacharya who were piloting the aircraft during the rescue.

Presenting the award, Vice Admiral Laurence applauded Bibby’s and Real’s “Superb skill and teamwork in the most difficult of circumstances, when precision and communication were key.”

Bristow’s UK SAR Director, Graham Hamilton said: “The crew’s actions that day are testament to their professionalism, determination, and teamwork.

“Without their commitment to saving and protecting lives, the outcome could have been very different. We are enormously proud of them, just as we are of all the men and women who contribute to saving lives across the UK, every day.”

Summary from the award nomination: “The crew of R924 was on-scene for 42 minutes during which they operated with multiple agencies in a physically demanding and emotionally charged environment where lives were clearly in peril. They demonstrated exemplary airmanship, crew-co-operation, tenacity, and skill while maintaining an overview of the situation.

“Handling pilot for the rescue and Aircraft Captain Jorg Brunner, flew the aircraft in difficult crosswind conditions, responding accurately to the numerous changes in hover position demanded by the erratic movement of the casualties in the highly dynamic surface environment. He made carefully considered captaincy decisions throughout which balanced the needs and effectiveness of his crew against the demands of an evolving situation.

“Captain Debdash Bhattacharya's role in maintaining an overview of aircraft safety and in managing the communications with multiple agencies was key in allowing the rest of the crew to focus on the winching evolutions.

“Jason Bibby's management of a complex winching evolution in a confined area with a limited view of the oncoming waves was faultless. His measured and calm approach allowed the aircraft to be placed accurately over the ever-changing surface in order to allow the Winchman to maintain a physical hold of the casualty during a critical period that led to his rescue.

“Winchman paramedic Carlton Real retained the power of veto throughout the rescue and demonstrated the level of professionalism and courage beyond that which we have come to expect of those who regularly put themselves in harm's way to help others. The true measure of his bravery and selflessness came to light when, despite his own considerable physical distress, he drew on whatever reserves he had left to lift the casualty from the rocky bluff at the request of the cliff rescue team.

“Furthermore, his focus on tending to the casualty during the transit to the hospital, effectively ignoring his own debilitated physical condition and high levels of exhaustion, demonstrated his mental fortitude and dedication to his medical craft.”