This evening, an HH-139A helicopter from the 80th SAR (Search and Rescue) Centre in Decimomannu, flying over the Gulf of Cagliari on a training mission at sea, received a tasking from the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) of the Aerospace Operations Command at Poggio Renatico (FE), the Armed Force's nerve centre for managing air search and rescue activities in Italy. The RCC, in coordination with the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) of Cagliari, which had received the alert and had already despatched a patrol boat to the Capo Spartivento area in search of a windsurfer who had gone missing, contacted the crew to request their remaining flight time and their availability to commence the search immediately. Upon receiving an affirmative response, they were ordered to switch from a training mission to a real rescue mission. The crew, having reached the Capo Spartivento area, immediately spotted a windsurf board on a rocky stretch of coastline and then found the man attempting to climb the cliff. After lowering a paramedic via winch near the unfortunate individual, a 58-year-old Italian man, the crew was ordered to transport him to the Brotzu Hospital in Cagliari. They proceeded to embark him using the winch as night fell in the area. The surfer was then transported to the hospital's helipad and handed over to the care of medical personnel, who had been alerted of the rescue vehicle's arrival in the meantime.
The 80th SAR Centre of Decimomannu is under the 15th Wing of Cervia, which guarantees search and rescue for flight crews in distress 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also contributes to public utility activities such as searching for missing persons at sea or in mountains, the emergency medical transport of patients in imminent danger of death, and the rescue of severely traumatised individuals, operating even in complex weather conditions.
From its establishment to the present day, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved thousands of people in life-threatening situations. Since 2018, the Department has also acquired AIB (Wildfire Fighting) capability, contributing to the prevention of and fight against fires throughout the national territory as part of the joint task force deployed by the Ministry of Defence.
From the 15th Wing in Cervia, in addition to the 80th SAR Centre in Decimomannu, the following are also dependent and stationed throughout the national territory: the 82nd SAR Centre in Trapani, the 83rd SAR Flight Group, located in Cervia, the 84th SAR Centre in Gioia del Colle (Bari), and the 85th SAR Centre in Pratica di Mare (Rome).