Time to honour lost helicopter rescue crew

PHILLIP Dowler's heart is heavy in his chest as he remembers a tragic and dark night five years ago today.

PHILLIP Dowler's heart is heavy in his chest as he remembers a tragic and dark night five years ago today.

The RACQ-CQ Rescue Helicopter general manger takes a deep breath before he begins to talk about the accident that claimed the lives of three of his men.

Pilot Captain Andy Carpenter, 31, crewman Stewart Eva, 31, and ambulance paramedic Craig Liddington, 31, were killed when the RACQ-CQ Bell 407 crashed on Friday, October 17, 2003.

The crew left the RACQ-CQ hanger at 9.35pm and was en route to Hamilton Island for a medical evacuation.

Fifteen minutes into the flight, the Bell 407 went down in the sea between Cape Hillsborough and Little Green Island, off Shoal Point.

There was no warning or mayday calls received from the crew. And despite an extensive investigation the cause of the crash has never been determined.

Mr Dowler said five years on his emotions were still raw.

"The anniversary brings bad memories," he said.

"It is difficult to talk about.

"The guys were normal down-to-earth men.

"They were just doing their job helping save the lives of other people."

To mark the five-year anniversary of the catastrophic accident, the RACQ-CQ crews will hold memorial services with the men's families tonight and tomorrow.

Andy, Stewart and Craig's loved ones will be coming from around the globe to pay their respects.

Andy's parents, Jim and Glenys Carpenter, arrived x from Auckland, New Zealand, a week ago.

They are staying with Andy's fianc?e, Catherine McHerron, who still lives in Mackay.

Andy's older brothers, Paul and Scott, have also made the journey across the Tasman to join the family.

Stewart's father Terry, widow Tanya and son Nicholas will be among the tight-knit group paying their respects.

As will Craig's relatives, including his parents who have travelled from interstate.

Andy's fianc?e Catherine said the memorials would be low-key.

"Tonight we are having a private barbecue with the crew of RACQ-CQ," she said.

"Tomorrow we will head out to the Cape Hillsborough memorial site."

Catherine, a podiatrist with Queensland Health, said she remembered her fiance Andy, as a man who was always smiling.

"He was a gentle, kind and caring man," she said.

The evening before Andy's death, Andy and Catherine enjoyed a meal together. They were to be married in February, 2004. Stewart's 12-year-old son, Nicholas, thought of his father as his hero.

They had a close bond that will never be forgotten.

The then Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Mackay area director Peter Warrener said Craig was a compassionate man whose zest for life was to be admired.

"Liddo fully reached his dream," Mr Warrener said at a tribute to the crewman at a capacity St Patrick's Catholic church in 2003.

In the past 12 years RACQ-CQ Rescue has performed more than 3500 missions to areas surrounding Mackay, Townsville and Rockhampton.

Originally published as Time to honour lost helicopter rescue crew