Last updated: July 11, 2014



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Travel Updates

Radiance Of The Seas rescue mission brings Westpac rescue helicopter into action


Air crewman Jethro Lampe inspecting the landing zone as the aircraft conducts a fly over before landing on the Radiance of the Seas cruise liner. Source: Supplied

THIS is one landing a helicopter pilot doesn't want to mess up.

A medical emergency aboard the Radiance Of The Seas luxury liner on Sunday meant the northern region Westpac rescue helicopter had to make a delicate landing on the ship's bow as it ploughed through the water about 80km off Coffs Harbour.

Rescue helicopter crewman Jethro Lampe said yesterday that, while the chopper was occasionally called to freight ship emergencies, cruise ship incidents were rare.

"It's a moving target and you've got to take into account the pitch and roll of the vessel, so the pilot has really got to be on his game," he said.

"The crew does the con, which is where we direct the pilot and clear him once he's directly over the helipad."

The crew, who average one rescue flight a day on the state's mid-north coast, landed safely and managed to get the injured passenger on board without incident. Mr Lampe said the 37-year-old, who had an existing medical condition, had injured his head after falling over in the ship's gym.

He was flown to Coffs Harbour Base Hospital for treatment in a serious but stable condition. It's been an unfortunate week of accidents on cruise ships around the world, with a lifeboat on a British-operated cruise ship berthed in Spain plunging more than 20m into the water last week, when a cable snapped, trapping crew members beneath it and killing five.