More than 25 emergency rescue flights in the storms

Search and rescue helicopters from the Royal Navy have made more than 25 emergency journeys during the recent storms.

Nine people were rescued in the West Country with helicopter crews from Royal Navy Station Culdrose battling with the extreme conditions.

These conditions made the journeys far more dangerous and saw 50 knot (57mph) head winds triple the journey time of some flights requiring extra stops for fuel in North Devon.

Search and rescue helicopters from across the UK saw what the government described as “almost non-stop” activity during the storms as people found themselves in dangerous situations.

Sailors, stranded walkers and those in medical emergencies were among those rescued during this busy period.

One rescue of a French sailor in the English channel was described as “a rescue at the limits of the aircraft and crew” by Lieutenant-Commander Andy Watts.

Sadly the Culdrose crews had to abandon some rescues because of the weather, including the search for Guildford man Harry Swordy who went into the sea at Loe Bar in the small hours of New Year’s Day,

Tragically Harry Swordy’s body was subsequently washed ashore despite a search by Sea King helicopters.

A campaign to re-name the storm after Harry Swordly has been taking place on social media sites.

Crews from Culdrose are also aiding in the search for teenager Harry Martin, who vanished while photographing the storms near Newton Ferres on 3 January.

Despite an ongoing and extensive search no trace of Harry Martin has yet been found.

“The rescue efforts put in by all the Royal Navy’s Search and Rescue assets over this period has been immense,” said Cdr Andy Rose, Commander Sea King Force.

“To pick just one example, 771 Squadron were involved in a very difficult rescue effort in extreme conditions 200 miles south-west of the Isles of Scilly on Christmas Eve that eventually saw a merchant vessel get the stricken sailors to safety; out of ten for the endeavour, I’d score them an 11.”