Editorial: Rescuers do stellar work for us

"Able or ready to face and endure danger or pain" is the Concise Oxford Dictionary's definition of the word "brave".

It takes a special kind of person to put their life on the line for a stranger.

For most of us the thought of being winched down from a helicopter into a raging ocean to rescue someone seems like madness, but for some it is just part of the job.

I can't imagine what it would be like to go to work knowing that that day may be your last day alive.

You have to admire the work done by crews of rescue helicopters.

This is why our front page story about Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter pilot Dean Herrick, crewman Geoff Taylor and St John advanced paramedic Stephen Smith getting the top honour at the 2011 New Zealand Search and Rescue Council Awards last night is so special.

The trio received Gold Awards for a rescue mission they undertook last year to save a yachtie stranded in rough seas off Cape Kidnappers during a storm.

At 6pm on October 11 the three flew to the distressed man 50 nautical miles out from the cape and pulled a 63-year-old Wellington sailor off his yacht in 5m swells with winds gusting over 35 knots.

If you stop and think about it, the bravery of these men is actually quite unbelievable. All three of them had a vital role to play and all were doing it in fading light and stormy conditions. I am no pilot, so I can only imagine what it is like to fly a helicopter into the eye of a storm. Knowing that you have your team's life in your hands would add to the pressure. The job of winchman cannot be a fun one in rough conditions. Any misjudgment could see the people at the bottom of the rope ending up in a watery grave.

But the toughest job of all was done by the paramedic. Steve Smith, who was the rescuer at the end of the rope on that day, seems to be a modest chap. When we contacted him yesterday about his award he said: "It was a once in a lifetime job - the most technical I've been involved with."

I don't want to say anything negative about Mr Smith, but I think he is underplaying what he did just a tad. This is a man who dropped down into stormy seas and save a man's life. To me that is more than just technical, that is heroic.

We have a lot to thank men like Mr Smith, Mr Herrick and Mr Taylor and you can show your appreciation by donating money to this worthy cause. The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service is a charitable trust established to provide a dedicated rescue helicopter to our region. They assist in more than 300 missions each year.

It is comforting to know that if you get yourself in a life-threatening situation, there are men like these and others who are prepared to come and get you.