Night-time operation by the 83rd SAR Squadron of Cervia. Two people rescued after plunging 70 metres down an embankment in their car.

A helicopter of the 83th SAR (Search and Rescue) Group of Cervia, a unit under the 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force, took off during the night to carry out a delicate rescue following a car veering off the road and plunging down an embankment near Campocecina (Massa Carrara).

The alert crew, having received the mission order from the Operations Room of the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) of the Aerospace Operations Command of Poggio Renatico (FE), headed promptly to the accident area. The location of the injured parties and the accident site, characterised by a particularly rugged area, was made possible also thanks to the use of NVG (Night Vision Goggles) night vision equipment by the entire crew.

After the technicians from the Tuscan Alpine and Speleological Rescue team initially arrived at the scene and checked the condition of the two people, who were immediately stabilised, the intervention of an Italian Air Force helicopter became necessary for recovery via winch. Once they arrived at the scene, the crew initiated the complex recovery operations. The woman, properly immobilised, was hoisted on a stretcher, while the man was rescued using an evacuation triangle. Immediately afterwards, the helicopter headed towards Massa Carrara airport to hand the two people over to the care of the medical team waiting for them on the ground in an ambulance.

Once again, constant training and synergy between the Italian Air Force and other civil rescue organisations, such as the CNSAS, make it possible to operate successfully even in the most critical weather and environmental situations.

The 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force ensures, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, the search and rescue of flight crews in difficulty, while also contributing to public utility tasks such as searching for missing persons, emergency medical transport and rescue in hostile environments, operating even in adverse weather conditions and at night. Under the Command of the 15th Wing, based in Cervia, are the 83rd SAR Squadron in Cervia, the 80th SAR Centre in Decimomannu, the 82nd SAR Centre in Trapani, the 84th SAR Centre in Gioia del Colle and the 85th SAR Centre in Pratica di Mare, deployed across the national territory.