During an unprecedented weather event, Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Rick Scott found himself winching down 30 metres to rescue a flood survivor at night from fast-flowing waters in early 2022.
On the afternoon of February 25, he and other School of Army Aviation staff were sent home because of flood warnings across the Toowoomba region.
A few hours later, WO2 Scott was recalled and stood up as a rescue crewman aboard an MRH-90 Taipan Trooper 70 to conduct rescues across the Lockyer Valley region.
After receiving a GPS location for a potential rescue, the crew found a survivor on a small boat snagged in fast‑moving floodwater waving a torch to get the rescuers' attention.
As WO2 Scott winched onto the boat's bow, which was taking on water, the survivor moved towards him and that sudden movement caused the boat to capsize, throwing them both in the water.
"I've got about 10 kilos of harness on my body, plus a two‑kilo helmet, so swimming and staying afloat was difficult," WO2 Scott said.
"The adrenaline was pretty high at that point, but I was more worried about the individual than myself."
With the boat drifting rapidly downstream, WO2 Scott submerged himself to fit a helicopter hypothermia rescue strop to the survivor before both were winched clear.
'The adrenaline was pretty high at that point, but I was more worried about the individual than myself.'
Before that day, WO2 Scott had no experience conducting water rescues, but said it was important to help regardless of the challenges.
"Nothing really changes in the drills and the skill set," he said.
Rescue operations continued until March 3, including complex extractions of people trapped in flooded homes.
WO2 Scott joined the Army six months out of school, becoming an aircraft technician with the 6th Aviation Regiment before transferring to Army Aviation as an aircrew operator in 2017.
"I always wanted to work on helicopters," WO2 Scott said.
"I like being able to fly, but I also enjoy conducting training that will be helpful if I am called upon to assist the community in the future."
For outstanding devotion to duty during the high‑risk rescue, WO2 Scott was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross as part of the Australia Day honours.
When notified he was being considered for recognition, WO2 Scott assumed the honour was for the unit or the crew as a whole.
"I never thought being recognised individually would happen, so it was nice to receive, or even just be considered for that recognition," he said.
