iscover
On the Airbands
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Some very bad luck recently for NSW’s Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Service. Equipment, including radio gear, was stolen from the “Lifesaver One” helicopter when it was left unattended in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, during an airlift operation. A 10 week old baby had respiratory problems, and was dying, so the Lifesaver helicopter was tasked to fly in a humidicrib to Katoomba Hospital. The crew set the helicopter down in Melrose Park, about one kilometre away from the hospital; as they normally do, and made their way with the crib by ambulance, which had been waiting for them. Normally, they would only be 15 to 20 minutes, but with a neo-natal mission of this type, they were more than five hours, and it was the early hours of the morning before the crew returned to the BK 117 helicopter, VH-SLA. Local Police had been alerted to patrol past the helicopter every now and then, but in between their visits, some totally without conscience thieves raided the locked up rescue helicopter by forcing open a window, and stole approximately $3500 worth of valuable equipment. Stolen items included a $2500 Motorola HT-600 portable radio, a $300 underwater diving torch and a special $350 survival knife that is used by crews in rappelling operations. The portable radio had Surf Lifesaving frequencies in the 484 — 490 MHz band fitted, and as such is useless in its present form to the thieves. Hopefully, if they have any pangs of conscience at all they might give the gear back, but we’re not holding our breath! Offers to resupply the stolen items have come in quickly from various organisations, willing to help, no strings attached, and at no cost to the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Service. A Westpac Lifesaver crewman told AA magazine that “the stealing represents money that could have been used for other purposes.” The outrage felt after theft of valuable equipment is magnified tens of times over when it involves stealing from organisations such as rescue agencies or other emergency services. I sincerely hope the thieves are caught and pay a heavy price in court for their callous act. If anyone can assist with information about the theft or the offenders, call your local Police or the Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Base at Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney, on (02) 311 3499.
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