Culdrose-based Navy helicopter pilot helps rescue people trapped by the Australian bush fires

A Royal Navy helicopter pilot based at Culdrose in Cornwall has helped rescue people trapped by the Australian bush fires.

Lieutenant Commander Nick Grimmer is on exchange with the Royal Australian Navy.

He helped rescue residents from a small town in Victoria who had been trapped by the flames.

Over the new year, Lt Cdr Grimmer’s aircraft, five aircrew and 14 engineers were called to join the amphibious ship HMAS Choules, as the bushfires spread to the south-eastern tip of Australia.

The pilot has been flying for up to ten hours a day alongside his colleagues in difficult conditions.

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