Albatross helicopter crew explain Child Rescue Capsules roles in dramatic flood rescue

Leading Seaman Aircrewman Bennet was part of the HMAS Albatross-based 816 Squadron crew onboard the Seahawk Romeo MH-60R helicopter, Tiger 09, which completed a daring rescue of a family in floodwaters in Sydney a couple of weeks ago.

While LS Bennet said it was "just what we do" he ventured out of the Seahawk aircraft on three occasions to airlift two sisters, aged three and one, and their mother to safety as floodwaters surrounded their home.

"This is what we train for and we were happy to be able to help," LS Bennet said.

Leading Seaman Aircrewman Liam Sulley, who was operating the winch in the rear of the aircraft, overseeing his colleague's rescue efforts said it was a "real team effort", with pilot Lieutenant Brad Donaldson and mission commander LEUT Grant Rushford ensuring the helicopter remained in the right and a safe position for the winch activity.

"Also the team back here that ensured everything with the aircraft was ready to go - it was a whole team effort."

While the rescue itself featured on various news broadcasts around the country one of the biggest talking points was the Child Rescue Capsules that were strapped to LS Bennet and used to airlift the young girls to safety.

While they look like a large glorified sports bag, the specially designed capsule is far more than that.

"We really only took delivery of the capsules late last year," LS Bennet said.

"One of our guys saw them being used and suggested it would be a good additional piece of equipment for us to have."

"This was the first time we used them," LS Sulley said "and they certainly showed their worth."

LS Bennet and Sulley demonstrated how the Child Rescue Capsule is used.

"It really is a simple piece of kit for us to use," LS Bennet said.

"It unstraps, opens up, the legs area pops out and you're ready to go."

The capsule is rated to be able to carry someone up to 90 centimetres tall and weighing up to 50 kilograms.

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Inside there is a harness and once the child is placed inside they can be secured in place.

The lid, which comes with a clear plastic window cover, as well flyscreen cover, allows the person being winched with the child to talk to them and reassure them during the operation.

The capsule is attached through its two handles to the hoist to be able to be lifted up to the aircraft.

"Even during in the rescue I was able to talk to the child and reassure them during the lift that it was all going to be over nice and quickly," LS Bennet said.

He said the kids "had a great time."

"It's pretty daunting being in a capsule, then being airlifted up in the air underneath a big noisy helicopter," he said.

"But they were all smiles."

Arriving on scene and locating the house, which was completely surrounded by rising floodwater, the crew saw that a SES rescue boat that was also in the area, was unable to reach the house, so found a safe position to lower LS Bennet.

"I'd seen a clothesline near the house and was able to estimate the height of the water which was about waist height," he said.

"Once on the ground and discovering the water wasn't moving to quickly I was able to disconnect from the wire and go into the house."

There he found the "stressed out family" and had to tell them he was there to rescue them.

"I had to convince the mum to allow me to put the children into the Child Rescue Capsule to be able to airlift them out," he said.

"And we were able to get the two kids out in separate lifts and then returned to take their mum as well."

The children's father decided to stay at the property.

For LS Sulley, the operation was all about getting his colleague down and up safely.

"There was obviously only a very small aim point to get Michael into - there were a lot hazards on the ground and the water he had to assess," he said.

"For me it was just ensuring the aircraft was positioned correctly and got him down in the safest possible position, as quickly but as safely as we could."

Having flown from HMAS Albatross north from the NSW South Coast to Sydney for the operation, considerations of fuel, time and weather were also being taken into account during the rescue.

"We want to make it as efficient as possible to get the family safe," LS Sulley said.

"It all went smoothly."

The bright green capsules were certainly one of the first things everyone noticed when the aircrew got out of the aircraft once it had touched down, putting the rescued family back onto solid ground.

"Throughout the whole operation we were able to monitor the children," LS Sulley said.

"They were quite comfortable the whole time, they were almost excited by the whole situation, which was great to see. And we rode off that."

"There were big smiles allround," LS Bennet said.

Especially for the mother when she arrived in the aircraft and could see the kids were safe.

"That was a big calming period for her as well," LS Sulley said.

And it appears more of the capsules could be on the way to the RAN, particular for use in aircraft while deployed on ships.