relatively good outcome compared to this rather sobering video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tY4BY6wBz4

F*** me . . . setenta metros ? that's 70 m.

They actually both survived so was not fatal.

A former Swiss helicopter winch man friend of mine told me it was a practice rescue and was probably due to the pilot misinterpreting the rescuers hand movements, while trying to connect to the winch hook, as a signal to ascend.

Unfortunately the rescuer had not yet made the full attachment and it failed soon after their full weight had been taken.

The issue was apparently not un-common. Petzl have worked with heli teams throughout the Alps to developed some interesting devices making heli rescue much safer.

https://www.petzl.com/GB/en/Professional/Lanyards-and-energy-absorbers/LEZARD#.WSNOl1LMw9c

https://www.petzl.com/GB/en/Professional/Lanyards-and-energy-absorbers/IGUANE#.WSNRulLMw9c

Mark

Alex said:

They actually both survived so was not fatal.

Click to expand...

Glad about that. Had to abort whilst watching it.