At Royal Marines Base Chivenor on the north coast of Devon, an emergency call comes in to the RAF search and rescue (SAR) crew. On the other side of the Bristol Channel, a rock climber has fallen and sustained a serious ankle injury. With details still sketchy, winchman Sgt Ryan Thomas and the crew race to the scene to assess the situation. “Let’s go out and see what we’ve got,” says Sgt Thomas.
During the flight, the SAR crew learns more about the casualty. The 50-year-old man has fallen from a cliff and suffered a compound fracture to the ankle. More importantly, he is suspended on an abseil rope beneath a ledge. “That piece of information makes a lot of difference,” says Sgt Thomas. Having prepared for a rescue from the ground, Sgt Thomas must change his kit and reassess the rescue plan. Upon arrival at the scene, an incoming weather report warns of turbulence, adding to the team’s mounting woes. “This will involve a lot of skill for the guys upstairs,” says Sgt Thomas. “At one point we are going to be connected to the rock via his rope and our winching equipment. It’s a dangerous time.”
Over at the Falmouth control centre, the day kicks off with a call from Plymouth police requesting assistance with a high-risk missing-person case. A vulnerable woman was last spotted heading towards the picturesque but potentially dangerous Godrevy Cove in Cornwall in the early morning, and has not been seen since. Coastguard rescue officer Tony Marsland leads a team from Falmouth on a detailed search of the beach to look for any clues to the woman’s whereabouts. “We’re all very keen to have a successful outcome,” he says. “We’ll be doing our damnedest to find her.”
Meanwhile, a local lifeboat is launched to search the nearby coastline, a police helicopter scours the ground from the air and another coastguard team searches further inland. With the woman now missing for over nine hours, it is essential that she is found as soon as possible. “The time to think may come afterwards,” says Tony. “At the moment, we’re purely focused on the search.”
Back at Chivenor, another emergency call comes in – this time from the 3,470-tonne Royal Navy warship HMS Echo, currently located near Cardigan Bay. A crewman has dislocated his elbow, and needs urgent medical attention. As the RAF rescue crew makes its way to the ship, pilot Hugh Pearce must keep a careful eye on the fuel gauge. “We’ve got about 20 minutes at scene to get the whole thing sorted,” he says. Will winchman and paramedic Haz manage to board the Echo, administer medical assistance and bring the casualty – a burly former rugby player – onto the safety of the Sea King helicopter in time?
Also this week, a team of archaeologists embarks on a major underwater mission to map and carry out essential preservation work on a 17th-century shipwreck in the English Channel. And the Dover lifeboat launches on an unusual mission to fulfil the final request of a late local lady.
Comments (17)
4 months ago
bugsbuna
veraygoodchannel
1 year ago
sylviewrig
everything i have tried to see so far will not play ? waste of time .
This comment was removed by a moderator
over 2 years ago
Anonymous
Why have them listed if we can't play them???
over 2 years ago
tom
agree with lesley, good comment, its clear theres a good few wanting to watch this program
over 2 years ago
Lesley
Ch 5 why are you messing about with yet another series? You do this constantly. Make part of a series available to view online via Demand5 then pull it, without notice or explanation. When will Sea Patrol Uk be available to watch online again? if ever. You pulled Axe Men. Why spend money filming shows when you don't show them. No wonder you can't get advertising revenue. Please answer your potential viewers.
over 2 years ago
Anonymous
I was about half way through sea patrol uk series, now none of the rest will play. Whats going on with this site? . Does anyone from Demand Five ever bother to answer of our questions?
over 2 years ago
tom
damm you ch5, i wanted to see it :(
over 2 years ago
YOZZER66
I also am sad that the last episode is not available to watch, I missed it when it was on tv. Stephen hughes Liverpool
over 2 years ago
Miv Lewin
I was one of the nurses on this programme, RAF Chivenenor and the climber guy with compound fracture off Saint Govans, Pembrokeshire Bless him both legs. I really hope he is doing well. Staff Nurse Lewin.
over 2 years ago
Matthew Southgate
Glad i am not the only one who could not watch the last episode. Hope they sort it out soon.
over 2 years ago
Golliwog
It's so darn annoying as its a fantastic program, and I've watched all the other episodes on here, so why not the latest episode, and will they let us see any further episodes if there are any?
over 2 years ago
Tom
Is the show going to be repeated any time soon or put online?
over 2 years ago
Ste
Whats happened to the 14/12/10 episode, I missed it expecting to be able to watch online
over 2 years ago
Omah
Why is this episode (14/12/10) NOT available to watch online? every other episode has been. When will it be available?
over 2 years ago
Sheenachez
wondering the same as the above comment
over 2 years ago
Lesley
Why is this episode (14/12/10) NOT available to watch online? every other episode has been. When will it be available?