|
fver
WA
Australia
396 Posts |
Posted 05/06/2006, 7:37 pm
   
|
This is an attempt of translation of an article put there:
http://www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=1944
"
A Canadair WaterBomber water lands on the Berre Lake to Save a Kitesurfer
This is the story of an extraordinary saving, of an extraordinary action from an experienced waterbomber pilot, who, the same way as sailors do, carried out the safety procedures in case of a "man overboard". He saved the life of a 34 year kitesurfer from Aix en Provence, from the cold water of the Berre Lake. Jean-Yves Derieu, pilot of the waterbomber, says: "We were coming back, with three planes, from a fire in the Gard region. Before landing to the Marignane airstrip, we were advised by radio that the boat from the sea rescue team was looking for a body in the lake, after a torn apart kite was identified without anybody around. An helicopter was already there. Our three planes did a detour to the lake.
At this time, there was a 40 knots gusty wind. The pilot flought along the eastern and northern boundary of the rough lake when Jean Yves' copilot see an arm agitating. "The victim had a black harness, thus we could not see him much in the very dark water. I decided to water land in the waves. The copilot noticed that we were about 200 m from the shipwrecked person.
The two other Canadairs guided me from the air. I piloted the plane as I would have steamed a vessel during a 'man overboard' procedure, and my copilot managed to get the victim on board by the rear door.
Happy but exhausted and in hypothermic state after three hours into the water, the victim is flought to the emergency centre of the airstrip. There, the sportman received medication and got recomfort by dining with the firemen. "He was very happy, speaking a lot, explaining that he could not believe that the Canadairs were there for him. The pilot admitted doing this type of manoeuvers for the first time in 17 years of flying.
The miraculously saved kiter promissed that he will not take any risk during strong wind.
"
If you are wondering what a Canadair is, follow the link below:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Residence/9541/415/415.html
Fred |
|
(newer)