Video: Cyclone rescue effort brought out the best in humanity, says helicopter pilot
The mobilisation of the Cyclone Gabrielle effort brought out the best in humanity, says helicopter pilot Charlie Beetham.
A year on from the Cyclone, Beetham spoke to Hawke’s Bay App at a Volunteer Appreciation Day at the Tomoana Showgrounds last Sunday.
Beetham, the Chief Pilot at Search and Rescue Services Ltd, was not piloting the day the Cyclone hit, but was co-ordinating the helicopter logistics for the lower North Island at a centre at Bridge Pa.
He says the ferocity of the Cyclone seemed to catch everyone by surprise.
“Oh, it was crazy really. We hadn't predicted it, I don't think. We were expecting this sort of epicenter to be a little bit further north and east of where we were. So, that caught us a little bit by surprise, just how quickly that things escalated and how bad it got so quickly.”
“Incredible mobilisation of the rescue services and of everyone really, and certainly of all the private operators, helicopter operators who helped us that night. Without them undoubtedly the result would've been a lot worse. So, we were very lucky, and just everyone pulled together and brought out the best in humanity at such a critical time really.”
He also has no doubt that he has never seen anything like the Cyclone before.
“Not to that extent and certainly not in our backyard. We were just lucky and very privileged to be able to help and make a difference, I guess, to people that had nothing.”
“I think, a year on, and it's still very traumatic for a lot of people. There'll be still a lot of work to do. It's good. It gives us a chance to all get together again and share the good and the bad, and talk about things, and hopefully we all move on and it doesn't happen again.”
