Police Helicopter assists in sea rescue off Torquay

At about 915pm tonight, Police attended an incident in the area of Princess Pier, Torquay and found that a male had jumped off the Pier and was being swept out to sea. The Police Helicopter and the local Life Boat were both scrambled. A passing Yacht became involved in the rescue and with the Police Helicopter overhead and coordinating with HM Coastguard the male was eventually pulled from the water onto the Yacht. The male was returned to shore suffering with the cold and taken to hospital where it is expected that he will make a full recovery.

A Busy Evening for the Police Helicopter.

The evening of Friday 11^th May 2012 was a busy evening for the police helicopter crew.

Lost person Located on Dartmoor

At about 6:30pm the crew were alerted to a concern for welfare of a female believed to be in the Widecombe on the Moor area of Dartmoor. The crew flew to the area and commenced a search. The female was located on open moorland some distance from the nearest road. The helicopter landed and the two police observers checked on the females welfare before escorting the female towards the road. They joined up with ground officers who escorted the lady back to the road.

Lost Boys Located near River Tamar

At about 8:30pm the helicopter crew were advised of a report of two young boys having made off towards the River Tamar near Bere Alston. Due to the age of the two boys there was concern for their wellbeing due to the proximity of the river. The police helicopter crew attended the scene and commenced a search. After a few minutes the helicopter crew spotted the two boys in a field near to the river. The crew updated the ground units of their location and monitored the boys until arrival of the ground officers. The frame grab from the thermal image shows the two boys as white dots by the centre cross hairs. The proximity of the River Tamar can be seen from the white area at the left of the screen which is the river.

Police Helicopter Conduct Search Following Reports of a Low Flying Aircraft Possibly Crashed Near Ashburton.

At about 10:55pm the police received a report of a low flying aircraft passing near Ashburton followed by a loud bang. After some questioning of a number of witnesses it was believed to be a small light aircraft which had been heard. The police helicopter was deployed to the area and commenced a detailed search of the area based on location using the thermal camera and night vision goggles, based on the direction of travel and time between heard to pass overhead and the bang. Further reports were received from a number of other witnesses all reporting the same. Despite a detailed search no aircraft was found.  It is believed following further enquiries that the military had been conducting a routine night-time low level navigation exercise in the area. Although this time it was a false alarm, the calls were made with good intent and such reports should always be made where there is concern for someone’s safety. Where there is some uncertainity as in this case of this incident the police will investigate to the point that they are satisfied there is no risk to the public.

Helicopter Crew Airlift Casualty of Road Traffic Collision to Hospital

At about 12:20am the crew of the police helicopter were requested to assist the Ambulance Service at the scene of a serious road traffic collision at California Cross near Ugborough, Devon by airlifting the most serious injured party to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. Due to the nature of the casualties injuries urgent medical attention available at Derriford Hospital was important to the best recovery of the casualty. The crew of the helicopter used night vision goggles to assist in the safe landing in a nearby unlit field so that casualty could be loaded into the aircraft. The flight to Derriford only took a few minutes. A doctor was also on the flight to Derriford to tend to the casualty. Derriford Hospital is a major trauma centre providing specialised care for casualties with serious injuries.

Police helicopter locates two following car crash in Rockbeare

Just after 10pm a call was received reporting a car crash in the small village of Rockbeare, near Exeter.  It was reported to police that the car had damaged overhead electrical cables and the occupants had disappeared.

The police helicopter, which was operating in the area, immediately diverted and joined numerous local officers, including a dog unit, searching for the occupants of the car.

Following a short scan using the thermal imaging camera the crew of the police helicopter located two people trying to hide in fields nearby.  The police officers in the helicopter directed the dog unit, who had also picked up the scent, to the location of the first person who was trying to hide in a hedge.  The second person also tried to hide but again couldn’t escape the thermal camera; once the first male had been detained by local officers by the dog unit continued and was directed by the helicopter crew to the hiding place of the second man.

Two men were arrested and are assisting officer with enquiries.

Police helicopter finds 90 year old missing man

At 9:30pm police took a call from a retirement home in a small village near Holsworthy, Devon reporting one of their residents, a 90 year old man with dementia, has left the property. The staff had noticed the departure of the man very quickly and was able to alert police at an early stage; by the time police arrived they had diligently search their building and provided a number of staff to assist police with the initial searching.

The weather was very poor with heavy rain and it was understood the man was not dressed for the conditions. As a result he was classed as a high risk missing person and an extensive search began involving numerous police officers, a dog unit, staff from the home and the police helicopter from its base in Exeter. Following a search that lasted over an hour the crew of the police helicopter, utilising the thermal camera, located the man in a field and were able to guide officers to him. The police helicopter crew monitored whilst officers made an initial assessment of the man’s injuries, ready to fly him to hospital if required. Thankfully he was found cold and wet with a few minor injuries but otherwise unharmed.

Police Helicopter locates missing Tavistock man

At 3pm on Monday 7th May police in Tavistock were called by the family of a man in his thirties who had concerns for his welfare. Specialist police negotiators made contact with the man by telephone and were able to narrow down his location. The police helicopter attended and found the man near to a river. A local police dog unit was passed directions by the police officers in the helicopter and the man, who was found safe and well, was taken into the care of the NHS.

Police helicopter locates vulnerable woman near Bodmin Moor

Just before 1pm police in Newquay received a call from the family of a 29 year old woman concerned for her welfare. Over the next 2 hours officers made extensive enquiries to trace the female and managed to narrow down the search area to a remote set of woods to the west of Bodmin Moor. The police helicopter, which was already assisting in the search for a missing man in Plymouth, was tasked to search the location. Despite the extensive woodland and because of the unique vantage point the crew have in the helicopter they were able to locate the car within seconds of arriving on scene. The helicopter maintained observation on the woman whilst guiding officers through the maze of forestry roads and tracks. The woman was found unharmed and reunited with her family.

Police Helicopter Finds Missing Near Camelford

In the early hours of Monday 16-April-2012 police were called to a remote property near Camelford to a report of a female who had left the property. The officers who attended the scene quickly assessed that there was concern for the female's welfare. Due to the rural location and open fields and darkness due to the time of night the officers requested the assistance of the police helicopter. The helicopter crew immediately lifted and flew direct to the scene. On arrival the crew used the thermal image camera and located the female hiding behind an object from the officers. The helicopter crew directed the officers to the female. The rapid deployment of the helicopter resulted in the search area being small. The helicopter was on scene for less than ten minutes. Independant studies have shown that the helicopter can search 1 square mile every twelve minute, a search by officers on the ground in the darkness may have taken a number of hours. Open area searches by the Force helicopter saves the Force thousands of pounds each year and allows officers involved in searches for persons to concentrate on other search areas.