ABC helicopter pilot Gary Ticehurst pictured before covering the Sydney to Hobart yacht race for the 25th time in 2007.
Picture: James Elsby The Daily Telegraph
THE death of helicopter pilot Gary Ticehurst has send shockwaves through the world sailing community with the Sydney pilot one of the heroes of the tragic 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Ticehurst played a major role in helping locate and rescuing sailors missing at sea when a Bass Strait low, in the form of a deep depression, exploded during the annual race south and turned it into a killer race 13 years ago.
More than 50 crew were rescued in the wake of the storm which also claimed the lives of six sailors in the worst storm in the history of the world famous race.
Ticehurst potentially helped save the lives of 20 plus sailors by hovering over their stricken vessels throughout the day in horrendos conditions, answering their Mayday calls and passing crucial information on to search and rescue officials.
Ticehurst said later that every time he heard a Mayday call after the tragic 1998 Sydney to Hobart "it sent a shiver down my spine''.
Ticehurst has covered more than 25 Sydney to Hobarts from the air, making him one of the most experienced pilots in world sailing.
He was also one of the most beloved and popular members of the close-knit sailing fraternity.
"We are all just dumfounded,'' said News Ltd photographer Ian Mainsbridge who worked alongside Ticehurst during 25 Sydney to Hobarts.
"He was a legend.
"Whenever he heard people were in trouble he'd been the Salvos there.
"He and Theresa (his wife) are just good people."
ABC television sports presenter Peter Wilkins described Ticehurst as "a fantastic helicopter pilot".
"I flew many hours with Gary," he told ABC radio this morning.
"He was a likeable chap. Going up (with him) in a helicopter ... anyone who has been there consistently knows you have to have trust in the pilot.
"Gary was right out of the top drawer there. He was an absolute professional. He made you feel comfortable. He could really operate the machine."
He also instinctively knew which pictures camera crew needed, Wilkins added.
"His work was phenomenal for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race," he said.
"He had a sensitive eye and often took the picture for you with his direction of the chopper."
Veteran ABC presenter Kerry O'Brien also said he felt safe while flying with Ticehurst, adding he enjoyed his company at the same time.
"I've flown with Gary many times over the years and he, again, was a consummate professional who loved his work and would always put safety first," he told ABC radio.
"Gary was somebody that you would feel safe with.
"If you climbed onto a helicopter you felt safe, you knew you were in great hands.
"And he was also very good company."
Source:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au
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