Two brave Civil Defense officials save man JEDDAH/ QIDAYD: The Civil Defense Helicopter Fleet has carried out tens of sorties lasting 14 hours and rescued 12 people at Umm Al-Khair District in Jeddah, including four others who were spotted by the copters' advanced satellite systems. This is according to Maj. Gen. Muhammad Bin Eid Al-Harbi, Commander of the Civil Defense Helicopter Fleet. He said their locations were traced using the satellite technology in complete darkness. He said the copters had rescued a man trapped in the floods at Far'a Valley, northeast of Yanbu. He said a rescue helicopter has been sent to Madina as a weather report indicated the possibility of heavy downpours in the region so the copter's service might be needed in an emergency. He said the Civil Defense copter fleet includes S-92 copters equipped with sophisticated thermal cameras allowing them to deal with any emergency at night. He said this type of copters can be used in search, rescue and firefighting. They have advanced radars which determine weather conditions and planes flying in the same zone. Apart from this, they are provided with navigation aids to ensure the safety of the plane and the pilot. Meanwhile, two members of the Civil Defense in Rabigh rescued a worker of Arab nationality who was trapped by flood water and faced possible death. When they received the call, Corporal Saleh Al-Sifri and Lance Corporal Bandar Al-Ghanmi rushed out to save the Arab worker in Al-Abwa' Valley. They braved the powerful streams and managed to save him with a boat. The operation was led by Brig. Gen. Khalid Al-Hazmi of the Rabigh Civil Defense department.
