103 Search and Rescue honoured for rescue mission

The 103 Search and Rescue Squadron hasreceived recognition for theirwork during a mission last April, when it rescuedtwo cadets from a ship taking on water.

• Coast guard vessel Ann Harvey hits sea bottom

The AnnHarvey, a Canadian Coast Guard vessel, struck bottom near Burgeo last year and began taking on water.Thesquadron began responding with water pumps, but they soon ran out.

A few members of the team sought out tofind more equipment.

"Those guys took it upon themselves to actually jump in their own car and go into town and actually rent more pumps," said Jean Leroux, the commander of the squadron.

"[It] made the whole thing above and beyond what their normal call of duty is and it made a difference at the end."

There were 26 crew members and two cadets on board the AnnHarvey at the time.

A Cormorant helicopter air lifted the two cadets off the vessel.

'Very rare that those guys get recognized'

Leroux said that in order to get a helicopter air borne and do a rescue, they needed a strong support crew.

"It's very special because it's very rare that those guys get recognized," said Leroux.

"I think it's a good sign that we're all human beings alsoand when there's life at stake we're able to go the extra step and go above the normal call of duty to make sure that we're doing the best we can to assist."

The Joint Task Force Atlanticin Gander has singled out four members of the Search and Rescue teamfor going above andbeyond the call of duty.

However, Leroux said that the team members won't take a break to celebrate they'llbe ready for action the next time there's a need.

"We don't really wait for recognition. We do mission after mission and we save lives. This is what we do."