SAR

Support your local search and rescue team - get lost!

~ Bumper Sticker

One fine August afternoon, there was an unmistakable sound of a helicopter nearby. Usually, you might hear its approach and shortly afterward, its departure as it zooms by. This sound was different though. It neither got louder, nor did it diminish. It just.. hovered. I headed out onto the dock and saw that it was a military rescue craft, and it was indeed hovering over Blueberry Island.

None of these photos are all that sharp - partly because it was a hazy day and Blueberry Island is at a fair distance across the bay - and partly because I was sitting on a floating dock - and they tend to bob, especially when boats go by, and they do that fairly often on a fine, August afternoon.

Enough excuses. Here's the rescue as it happened.


The first thing I saw was a Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue (SAR) Griffon helicopter (or so my military son tells me) simply hovering in front of the rock face. Then a tiny orange blob appeared. That blob turned out to be a person suited up to be lifted into the craft.






The helicopter immediately pulled away from the area. I figured its mission was over. It came toward me.






Then veered past me.






It flew over the point to the right of our place and disappeared behind the tree line for a few minutes. It never really got any quieter though.






Before I knew it, it was back again, picking up two more people. It must be both frightening and exhilarating to dangle over the treetops and rock face like that.





Moments later, the next person was on his or her way up. This one appeared to be a bit more upright.





A few seconds later, they were being pulled into the craft.






With everyone safely inside, they immediately took off again. Doesn't this view just conjure up the opening theme from M*A*S*H?






Once again, they made their way over the treetops.






They soon disappeared outside of my view - presumably to bring their rescued climbers to safe ground.

It made for an interesting half hour.

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My heart goes out to the family and friends of the young Hamilton reservist who was killed in Ottawa on Wednesday, while standing as the honour guard at the National War Memorial.

Rest easy Cpl. Nathan Cirillo.
 

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