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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8284259.stm
A Sea King helicopter crew from RAF Valley on Anglesey carried out a long range rescue of a Canadian sailor whose hand had been crushed.
The crew flew around 200 miles out into the Atlantic to pick up the man from the frigate HMCS Montreal and take him to hospital in Sligo, Ireland.
The 50-year-old sailor's fingers would have been amputated if he had not received the emergency treatment.
The helicopter had to land on the ship in sea mist on Wednesday at 1736 BST.
The helicopter crew of four took off from RAF Valley at 1120 BST after it had been stripped of surplus equipment to maximise its range.
Radar
After refuelling at Blacksod airfield in Ireland, the helicopter flew on to meet with the Montreal 220 miles out in the Atlantic ocean.
As the aircraft neared the rendezvous point in deteriorating weather and sea mist at low level, the Sea King's radar picked up just one ping from the vessel.
"I managed to get one ping out of the radar but luckily it was the one ping we needed," said Flt Sgt Nick Swannick on his return to RAF Valley.
The Sea King landed on the rear deck of the ship and with rotors running and brought the casualty and his escort safely aboard.
After a two hour flight to Sligo airport, the casualty was taken by ambulance to hospital for emergency surgery.
A Sea King helicopter crew from RAF Valley on Anglesey carried out a long range rescue of a Canadian sailor whose hand had been crushed.
The crew flew around 200 miles out into the Atlantic to pick up the man from the frigate HMCS Montreal and take him to hospital in Sligo, Ireland.
The 50-year-old sailor's fingers would have been amputated if he had not received the emergency treatment.
The helicopter had to land on the ship in sea mist on Wednesday at 1736 BST.
The helicopter crew of four took off from RAF Valley at 1120 BST after it had been stripped of surplus equipment to maximise its range.
Radar
After refuelling at Blacksod airfield in Ireland, the helicopter flew on to meet with the Montreal 220 miles out in the Atlantic ocean.
As the aircraft neared the rendezvous point in deteriorating weather and sea mist at low level, the Sea King's radar picked up just one ping from the vessel.
"I managed to get one ping out of the radar but luckily it was the one ping we needed," said Flt Sgt Nick Swannick on his return to RAF Valley.
The Sea King landed on the rear deck of the ship and with rotors running and brought the casualty and his escort safely aboard.
After a two hour flight to Sligo airport, the casualty was taken by ambulance to hospital for emergency surgery.