General

The Icelandic Coast Guard‘s helicopter rescue team conducted a record number of 214 missions in 2015

By Staff

To the rescue The rise in search and rescue missions can be directly linked to the increasing numbers of foreign travellers visiting Iceland. Photo/Vilhelm

The Icelandic Coast Guard‘s helicopter rescue team conducted a record number of 214 missions this year. According to Vísir, the previous record was 195 missions in 2013.

The helicopter rescue team is responsible for maritime safety and responds to emergency situations when the nature of the injury or terrain requires service by air.

Ásgrímur Lárus Ásgrímsson, head of operation with the Icelandic Coast Guard, says the rise in search and rescue missions can be directly linked to the increasing numbers of foreign travellers visiting Iceland. A survey conducted by the Icelandic Tourism Research Centre supports that, showing that half the rescue missions conducted between 2009 and 2013 were to assist foreign travellers.

“The helicopter rescue team was originally established to conduct rescue at sea and to evacuate injured or sick seamen. This has changed and now 75% of our missions are land-rescue operations that, among other things, involve evacuating people from inaccessible terrain.”

Helicopter rescue missions are highly expensive. Ásgrímur estimates that each hour costs around 680 thousand ISK (4,793 Euros/ 5,233 USD). However, the Coast Guard does not charge for rescue.

“We don’t want people in need to be hesitant about calling for help because they are worried about cost,” Ásgrímur concludes.

Below is a video of the helicopter rescue team in action.