Marcus Wigfull, a Royal Navy Search & Rescue hero, has been awarded the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) Humanitarian Award. The Humanitarian Award is presented each year to an individual (or group) who have been judged to have contributed significant and valuable efforts to an emergency air operation, disaster relief or charitable activities during the previous 12 months. The Award was presented by BACA Chairman Tony Coe at the Baltic Air Charter Association Awards lunch which was held at London Guildhall on 30^th October.

In a career spanning 26 years Marcus has made just under 1,000 rescues which includes over 800 people, including many children and the odd pet or two! The bulk of Marcus’s career has been with the Royal Navy but in the last three years he has spent time as a civilian Search and Rescue with HM Coastguard, CHC Global and Brunei Shell Petroleum. Currently based in Brunei, Marcus travelled all the way to London to accept the BACA Humanitarian Award.

Speaking about his acceptance of the Award Marcus said “I am both delighted and honoured to receive this prestigious award from the Baltic Air Charter Association. Over the last two decades I have flown with so many highly professional Search and Rescue crews who have kept me safe, often in quite extreme flying conditions, it really is a team effort. I would like to thank the BACA committee for this Award and look forward to many more years in this very rewarding career.”

BACA Chairman Tony Coe added “The outstanding achievements by Marcus and his colleagues immediately identified him as an excellent recipient for the 2014 BACA Humanitarian Award. Marcus has demonstrated courage and conviction in carrying out an incredible number of rescues. I am sure that many people will join us in congratulating Marcus on an outstanding achievement.”

Marcus Wigfull BACA Humanitarian Award 2014 Career history

– 23 years in the Royal Navy of which 16 years Search and Rescue.
– 3 years civilian Search and Rescue with HM Coastguard, CHC Global and Brunei Shell Petroleum.
– Just under 1000 rescues in total.
– Over 800 people rescued or medically assisted in the aircraft including many children and the odd pet or two.
– 5000 hours in the following aircraft – Seaking Mk 3A, 5 and 6, AW139, S92A.
– Search and Rescue Diver – jumping from 40ft with dive set down to 30 metres for sub surface rescues for 12 years.
– HCPC registered Paramedic.
– SAR Bases worked Military  – 1995 – 2011

o   RNAS Culdrose (771 NAS) Cornwall

o   Gannet SAR Flight (Prestwick, Scotland)

o   RMB Chivenor (RAF Exchange, Devon)

o   78 Sqn, (Falkland Islands)

• SAR Bases HM Coastguard after retiring from military –  2011 – 2013

o   Stornoway (Isle of Lewis)

o   Sumburgh (Shetland Islands)

o   Portland (Weymouth)

o   Lee On Solent (Hampshire)

• Abroad

o   CHC Global SAR set up in support of Oil and Gas Operations – Atyrau, Kazakhstan.

o   Current – SAR Senior Crewman and Clinical Manager for Brunei Shell Petroleum, Brunei, Borneo.

• Notable awards

o   Queens Commendation For Bravery in the Air (QCBA)  – 2009 for rescue of 3 yachtsmen from grounded vessel on Horse Island, Ayrshire.

o   Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) 2011 – Master Rear crew Certificate.

• Notable rescues since leaving the Navy in 2011

o   CHC SAR Sumburgh – first baby delivered in a Sikorsky S92A at 1000ft over Luna Holm Island in Dec 2012. (Many stories on internet)

Since leaving the Royal Navy in 2011, Marcus spent 2 years working as a SAR Winch man Paramedic Contractor at the 4 CHC SAR Bases listed above and was asked to inaugurate the SAR set up for CHC Global in Atyrau, Kazakhstan where he did rotational work in between the UK commitments.

Since October 2013, Marcus has been employed full time within Brunei Shell Petroleum as part of the SAR management team for the first ever SAR project in support of the North Borneo Coast (South East Asia) Oil and Gas off shore installations in the latest S92 aircraft. As the SAR Senior Crewman and Clinical Manager, Marcus is responsible for all rear crew aspects including Clinical procedures, equipment procurement and looking after a further 9 Paramedic crewmen.

Marcus is 42 years old, married to Emma with 2 children, Lucas aged 12 and Maisie 7.