The Billy Deacon SAR Memorial Trophy and an inscribed Breitling watch was presented by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence at the Air League’s Annual Reception Ceremony at the House of Commons London on the 14 June 2023. The Award is sponsored by Bristow Helicopters and Breitling (UK).

The 2023 award for rescues carried out in 2022 has been made to Winch Paramedic Duncan Tripp of the Inverness Search and Rescue Helicopter base in Scotland. Duncan is a Winch Paramedic with Bristow Group who deliver helicopter Search and Rescue services throughout the UK on behalf of His Majesty’s Coastguard.

Award citation:

On 8 March 2023 Duncan rescued trapped climbers from Ben Nevis, in appalling weather conditions of near zero visibility, freezing temperatures and storm force winds. At an altitude of 3,600 feet the mountain was covered in ice and snow making the paths treacherous. He operated on foot, carrying 30KG of lifesaving equipment, as the weather was too bad for the rescue helicopter to fly to the site. He was separated from the aircraft for 6 hours.

At great personal risk his leadership, sheer determination, energy sapping physical effort and courage ensued the safety of 24 people, some of whom faced life threatening situations.

The rescue took place at a location known as the Zig Zag path and Red Burn Gulley high on the mountainside. The severe weather meant the rescue helicopter could not land or hover safely in the vicinity of the casualty. So the decision was made to land the helicopter further down the mountain.

Winch Paramedic Duncan Tripp volunteered to leave the safety of the aircraft and loaded with his rescue gear, wearing crampons and carrying an ice axe he started a laborious and dangerous ascent. On the way up he came across two groups of people descending who were physically and mentally exhausted, but knowing the mountain rescue teams had been mobilised he bravely pressed on higher up the mountain.

Enlisting the support of another well-equipped climber, he slowly made his way towards Red Burn Gulley. A craggy inaccessible area. Eventually locating two exhausted and trapped people. The pair were reluctant to move, suffering from exposure and in fear for their lives, but Duncan explained their best chance of survival was to entrust their lives to him and attempt a descent of the mountain.

Early in the descent Duncan had to hack steps into the ice frozen ground to traverse a ledge, then escort his party across one by one. Struggling to keep track of their position in the ‘white out’ conditions and fading light they used paths on snow and ice covered ground barely a foot wide. At one point the sheer force of wind caused Duncan to lose his footing, sending him sliding down an ice slope for some 20 metres before he was able to save himself by rolling over and digging in with his ice axe.

Nearing a position of relative safety, the group met up with some Mountain Rescue Team members who assisted the casualties with Duncan leading the party downward. Due to low cloud and a lightning storm the rescue helicopter could not reach the agreed extraction point at ‘Halfway Lochan’. But other members of the Mountain Rescue teams had arrived at that point and with their soft track vehicle the whole party made it to safety at Torlundy, meeting up with his colleagues in the Rescue Helicopter after some six hours on the mountain.

Praise and thanks must also be paid to the many brave members of the Mountain Rescue teams who rescued people and all those that supported them in a Search and Rescue Major Incident, on that day.

George Rawlinson MBE, Award Committee chair said: ‘This incredibly demanding rescue was completed in extreme weather conditions. Facing a multiple casualty situation, Duncan demonstrated the highest levels of leadership, fortitude and bravery. Leaving the rescue helicopter to strike out on his own up the mountain in storm force freezing weather is testament to his personal qualities, skill and courage. His decision making, selfless acts at great personal risk during those 6 hours on Ben Nevis contributed to the safe recovery of 24 people and most notably 2 trapped climbers in Red Burn Gulley.