Around sunrise on February 12 last year, Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service’s Phillip Dowler received a phone call to hurry into work. Later that same day he found himself at the centre of the biggest helicopter rescue from a vessel in Australian maritime history. The twin-masted Romance was carrying 32 passengers and five crew when, battered by cyclonic winds and waves, it was lashed onto rocks at Cave Cove, on Hook Island. When rescue vessels found the yacht too dangerous to board, the RACQ-CQ RESCUE helicopter in Mackay and another from the Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) Helicopter Rescue in Townsville were called in. On board the former was Phillip Dowler. He remembers the scene vividly: “Waves (three metres high) were smashing into the yacht; there were 80 km an hour winds and torrential rain. I thought, ‘How are we going to achieve this (rescue)?’ Then, the training kicked in.” He and Water Police officer Brett Norris made their way onto the stricken vessel and began cutting away the ropes holding the mast and the radio antennae to enable the helicopters to hover low overhead. EMQ Helicopter Rescue crewman Mark Bryant was then lowered in and the three rescuers prepared passengers for winching, placing two at a time in a harness, until all 37 onboard were plucked to safety. For their part, the RACQ-CQ RESCUE team earned bronze medals from the Royal Humane Society of Australasia. Mr Dowler said he was proud of his team that included pilots Heath Scanlan and Alex Crawford, engineer David Jibson and air crewmen Paul Price, Daniel Hoare and Darren Bobin.
“The truly rewarding aspect of the job is being part of a team environment where we look after each other and bring back someone from the brink of tragedy,” Mr Dowler said. “The downside is that not every job is successful. There are some people that we just can’t save. To then go home and try to be a normal dad and husband is not easy.”

 
DID YOU KNOW?
The RACQ is the naming rights sponsor of CQ RESCUE, helping significantly in keeping this all-important service aloft. More than 3500 missions have been flown since 1996. The community can also lend financial support, with donations of $2 or more per annum being tax deductible. To assist, go to www.cqrescue.com.au.