Rescue (1990 TV Series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Rescue
genre = Documentary
director = Paul Berriff
country = UK
num_series = 1
num_episodes = 13
network = ITV
first_aired = 7 January, 1990
last_aired = 1 April, 1990

"Rescue" was a 13-part documentary series created and directed in 1990 by Cameraman Paul Berriff. It focused on the work of "Rescue 137", a Sea King belonging to 202 Sqn, Royal Air Force in and around their base at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland and the North Sea.

The series covered a multitude of incidents ranging from ferrying a sick child to hospital right up to the world's worst offshore disasters, the explosion and ensuing fire on the Piper Alpha oil platform.

Episode guide

Episode 1: Budding Rose (First broadcast 7 January, 1990)

The team race to rescue seven crew members from the Peterhead fishing vessel, "Budding Rose" after it begins taking on water in gale conditions 100 miles east of Aberdeen.

Episode 2: Baby Sam (First broadcast 14 January, 1990)

The team are called out to transport a three month premature baby, Sam Harcus, from Orkney to a hospital in Aberdeen. During the flight, Baby Sam's heart stopped and the helicopter winchman, Bob Pountney, kept the baby alive my providing heart massage during the flight.

Episode 3: White Out (First broadcast 21 January, 1990)

The team operate in Scotland during blizzard conditions

Episode 4: Worse Things Happen at Sea (First broadcast 28 January, 1990)

"Rescue 137" scrambles to assist a man who has taken a 20 foot fall on board an Oil Rig support ship

Episode 5: Winchman (First broadcast February 04, 1990)

This episode focused on the life of a winchman aboard an RAF Sea King

Episode 6: Ditching, Ditching, Ditching (First broadcast 11 February, 1990)

The team assist in the rescue of persons on board a helicopter that crashed into the North Sea

Episode 7: Piper Alpha (First broadcast 18 February, 1990)

The role that 202 Sqn played in the response to the Piper Alpha tragedy

Episode 8: Chox's Lecture (First broadcast 25 February, 1990)

Winchman, Paul "Chox" Barton provides advise for any walkers, climbers and tourists that may not be fully prepared

Episode 9: Water Falls (First broadcast March 04, 1990)

Water sports which may seem innocuous to some are shown in a different light by the events experienced by the crew of "Rescue 137"

Episode 10: Missing (First broadcast 11 March, 1990)

"Rescue 137" is called out to rescue men from the drilling rig, "Ocean Oddessey"

Episode 11: Avalanche (First broadcast 18 March, 1990)

The mountain rescue team, in conjunction with the crew of "Rescue 137" search for people trapped under the snow in the Highlands

Episode 12: We Never Say Never (First broadcast 25 March, 1990)

The team rush against the clock to save a 13 year old girl suffering from meningitis on the Isle of Skye

Episode 13: Sting In The Tale (First broadcast 1 April, 1990)

The crew set off for a weekend training with the mountain rescue team but an exercise goes drastically wrong

References

# [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/18543 The British Film Institute Film & TV Database]