WATCH: Inverness search and rescue crew Rescue 151 honoured to be named top emergency service at Highland Heroes 2023
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The bravery and heroics of the crew of the Highlands' own search and rescue helicopter were praised when the flew in to pick up the emergency service of the year award at Highland Heroes 2023.
The Inverness-based crew of Rescue 151 selflessly put themselves at risk constantly to carry out dangerous work in aid of those who need them most.
The worthy winners joined guests at the Drumossie Hotel to pick up the award in person.
Speaking after picking up the trophy winch paramedic Scott Sharman said: "It was a total surprise. We were very humbled given the competition that we had.
"We rescue people all over Scotland, in the mountains, in water, on the coast. It's a massively varied job that we do.
"It's lovely. Like I say it's really humbling. We never look for that sort of recognition but that's our job and we all thoroughly enjoy it."
READ MORE: Winners of Highland Heroes announced in Inverness
The award is the latest to recognise the hard work and determination that the crew put into their jobs.
They could not have been worthier winners of the 2022 Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award, presented by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots for outstanding courage or devotion to duty in the course of land or sea search and rescue operations.
With the accolade open to the global search and rescue (SAR) community, the standard is literally world class and confers that status upon the Highland capital's crew.
Captain Rob Green, Captain Simon Hammock, Philip Caudle and Duncan Tripp responded to what seemed a routine call on March 2, 2022 after a 28-year-old male had fallen on the UK's highest peak, Ben Nevis.
But it soon emerged that their task was, in fact, to prove a horrendously challenging one, with multiple casualties found to be stranded on the mountain in the most savage weather, which had already claimed one life.
By the end of their shift, the team had helped rescue no fewer than 24 people in increasingly hostile conditions, with driving snow, gale-force winds and treacherous terrain testing each member to the limit, all the heroes forced to match the highest demands of teamwork while drawing on their own individual resources of skill and bravery.
The winchman, especially, demonstrated selfless tenacity against impossible odds, but all crew members, faced with a developing multi-casualty scenario, displayed the highest levels of crew co-operation, judgment and handling skills to ensure a safe outcome for those in danger.
As Neil Ebberson, the director of UK SAR at Bristow, said: “The team did everything a first-class SAR crew would that night – and much more besides.
"What initially sounded like a fairly routine afternoon quickly turned into a major incident, with incredibly hostile conditions and multiple casualties all requiring aid.
"The need for a technical response as well as brave, selfless actions made it a truly demanding incident, and the team responded flawlessly.
"They are a credit to the global SAR community and worthy recipients of this prestigious award.”
