Tumble

RAF Wessex arriving to winch Rescue Team Members aboard

Many years ago I was member of a mountain rescue team in Scotland.

I was also the Secretary and one of the training team.

At a ‘call out’, one fateful day, I was leading a small advance first aid and stretcher party as we ascended a mountain ridge to get to the casualty quickly. There were four of us.

The rest of the team were setting up to follow a short time later.

On the way, I received a call to say an RAF Wessex Helicopter was heading our way and would pick us up and get us to the casualty quicker.

Shortly after the call, the Wessex circled above before reducing height to get close to us. The terrain made it unsafe to land, so we were all ‘winched’ into the helicopter individually. Three team member went first, then the stretcher and last but not least, yours truly.

Because of the stretcher, there was not a seat for me, so I simply sat at the door, with my legs dangling outside, winch still attached. It was a very windy day, with strong gusts.

When we reached our ‘disembarking’ point, or as the US Airforce say, the ‘deplane’ point, the winch operator informed me that the weather conditions were dangerous and landing was out of the question, with the helicopter bouncing about. It was not just the weather, but also the rough terrain.

So, decision time; we could simply jump out from an uncertain and changing altitude, maybe eight to ten feet or, return down the hill and walk up. Losing a lot of time.

“My decision was to jump.”

Following is the poem I wrote some years later that describes, in poetic terms, my experience;

TUMBLE

The snow billowed high

as we rose to the sky

towards summit and cloud

their peaks in grey shroud

The wind pushed us about

introducing some doubt

to the pilot and crew

as to what they should do

Was landing a choice

the pilot did voice

the crew’s sceptical reply

meant we stayed in the sky

The discussion grew more

as I crouched by the door

then wind intervened with a lurch and a sway

ejecting me from where I was happy to stay

As I plummeted down

toward the snow covered ground

I mused, what an inglorious way to go

till destiny intervened with a deep bank of snow.

Conclusion; my three colleagues landed without any drama, as did the stretcher, which missed us.

Drinks in a cosy hostelry later that night were at my expense, as were the many jokes.