A day in the life of the...Police Search and Rescue Team
Kia ora bro, how’s it going, what are you fellas doing here?
For Robert Hewitt, the navy diver who lived to tell the tale of his gruelling 75-hour ordeal trapped in the choppy seas off Mana Island, back in 2006, that was the first thing to spill out his mouth - well that and a desperate plea for water.
Mr Hewitt’s safe return to his friends and family marked the end of a massive air, sea and land search, which dominated the lives of the many Police SAR members, dive squads and numerous other volunteer groups who had been assigned to the four-day operation.
SAR national co-ordinator Bruce Johnston said the search would always stick in his mind. “I’ve been involved in hundreds of operations over the years, however the positivity which surrounded Robert Hewitt’s survival gave everyone who was involved a lift and it was great to be a part of.
“It is definitely one of the most memorable searches I have ever been involved in and I believe
Rob’s survival challenged the outer limits of human endurance in the marine environment.”
Who’s in charge?
In New Zealand, land and sea SAR operations are defined into two types – Category I and Category II.
The Rescue Co-ordination Centre manages incidents, which fall into Category II. These involve activations of emergency locator beacons, missing aircrafts and ships at sea.
Incidents which fall into Category I are coordinated by the Police and involve searching for missing persons lost in the bush as well as at sea.
Over the years police have formed SAR partnerships with volunteer groups such as the Royal New Zealand Coast Guard Federation, the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps (AREC) and the New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Incorporation.
These groups, along with others, play a large part in any SAR operation.
Organisation skills
Once the Police have received notification of a missing person, a SAR response is initiated and sent to all necessary SAR partnerships.
Police officers in each district are trained as SAR co-ordinators and their job is to oversee the search.
An administration team that includes; logistics, communications systems, media liaison, transport and a rescue team support police co-ordinators.
Main forms of communication while out in the field include the HF (high frequency) and VHF (very high frequency) radio.
However, satellite phones and cellphones are also used when coverage allows. Michie phones, which are specially-made earth-return telephones, continue to remain the main form of communication during cave rescues as its insulated wire can be attached to a receiver near the cave entrance before being strung into the cave. In this way, rescue workers can communicate with others outside the cave.
Another recent introduction has been digital emergency beacons equipped with GPS (global positioning systems).
Since its introduction, rescues have become quicker and more efficient.
The good bits
Lloyd Matheson, who worked as a Police search co-ordinator for 25 years at the Te Anau Police Station, said the job always kept him busy.
“As the station I worked at was located in New Zealand’s largest National Park (Fiordland National Park), there was always something going on.
“I really liked how varied the work was and I really enjoyed working with the volunteers,” Mr Matheson told Police News.
Saving lives and the challenge of planning successful operations were two other aspects Mr Matheson liked about the job.
Hard road to follow
One of the most difficult parts of the job was not being able to find a missing party, he said.
Dealing with the missing person’s family was also hard, especially if the team was unable to reach the desired outcome.
Mr Matheson said two of the most frustrating parts of the job were the lack of funding reserved for training SAR staff and media pressure.
“The media pressure can get really intense at times, which can definitely be hard, especially when your main focus is on the job at hand and time is against you.”
Part of the team
Although Police hold overall control of SAR operations they are the first ones to acknowledge that they would be lost without the help of their SAR partnerships and other volunteers.
“These people bring with them a host of skills and knowledge, “ Mr Matheson said.
To become an entry level volunteer Mr Matheson said individuals need to be reasonably fit, possess first aid skills and if specialising in land based search and rescue operations, bush craft experience is needed.
Track and clue awareness skills and missing party behavioural knowledge are also desired.
Team leaders in the field need to have leadership skills as well as SAR experience and search managers should have all the skills listed above as well as search management skills training.
“Generally, search managers have risen through the system after spending a decent amount of time at the field skills stage,” Mr Matheson said.
SAR national co-ordinator Bruce Johnston said a passion for helping others and a strong dedication to the job were also qualities any good SAR member would possess.
Latest SAR statistics
According to the SAR Annual Statistics Report 2008/2009 Police attended 1,616 land and marine search and rescue category I incidents and assisted in 60 category II incidents.
Out of the 1,676 incidents attended, 95 fatalities occurred, 14 through suicide. These figures were up 8% when compared to last year’s figures. Just over $2.7 million was spent on all search and rescue activities during the 2008-2009 period.
