Division Eleven Wins International ISAR ... - USCGAUX District 7

Page 13
Flotilla 86 Responds to Helicopter Crash
Photos and story by Julia E. Bidwick, FC 86
The boat in the foreground is the "go fast boat" in which the driver and
model were riding as the helicopter flew above photographing. On the port
side of the boat is the skid from the helicopter. The driver is aboard.
In the background are two rescue boats that came on scene minutes after
Auxiliary boats began the rescue operation. Sarasota County Sheriff with
rescued model on board, and Venice Fire Rescue is in the background. All
three boats are in the Gulf off Casey Key.
VENICE, Fla.- Two boats
from Flotilla 86, Venice Florida,
were first responders to
the site of a recent helicopterboat
accident. Their arrival
within fifteen minutes of the
accident is a testament to
their professionalism and
training.
A Bell 206L “Long Ranger”
helicopter carrying a pilot and
two photographers took off
from the Sarasota-Bradenton
Airport at 8:30 a.m. on September
11 for a photo shoot
for Powerboat magazine.
Things went horribly wrong
when, at around 10:00 a.m.,
about six miles northwest of
Venice, the landing skid of the
helicopter apparently struck
the fast moving boat and
crashed into the water. The
pilot and two passengers
were ejected.
Flotilla 86, in the meantime, was conducting a two-boat training exercise in the vicinity of Nokomis Moorings
when Double Deuce was hailed by a Sarasota Sheriff Deputy who told them of the accident and commandeered
their boat. Double Deuce with Coxswain Garland Russ and crew Bill Cabana, John Kandes,
Monique Ring and Trainee Ralph Bascom, immediately set off for the crash site. The second boat, Partner-
Ship, with Coxswain Jim Sleichert and crew John Harrison and Judi Bidwick, were notified by radio of the
crash with victims in the water and they quickly followed.
Details were sketchy; the coxswains only knew the general area of the crash site. They discussed the matter
by radio and agreed that Double Deuce would head due west and Partner-Ship would head north.
Within five minutes of entering the Gulf, Partner-Ship located the accident site and radioed Double Deuce,
which immediately changed course and raced to the accident site. The crew aboard Partner-Ship observed
five people in the water and debris scattered on the surface. A woman supported a victim in the water, trying
desperately to keep his head above the water. Partner-Ship’s crew went first to her, brought the man aboard,
and began first aid. The woman, a model aboard the boat who also happened to be a nurse, refused help
and swam off. Double Deuce, in the meantime, had brought the pilot aboard where a crew member and the
deputy began administering first aid. The captain of the accident boat was also in the water supporting the
third crash victim.