Airport crash heroics end in bravery award

Kim Waters
THOUSANDS of sky-dives over 36 years have blurred together in the mind of Torquay parachute instructor Ralph Hamilton-Presgrave but saving a colleague from a plane crash remains a vivid memory.
Mr Hamilton-Presgrave received an Australian Bravery Decoration this week for his heroic actions during a plane crash at a Barwon Heads Airport in 2002.
Mr Hamilton-Presgrave said he was working at Barwon Head’s Skydive City when a plane crashed into the airfield’s main building soon after take-off.
“We’d walked into the shed but when I heard the plane crash I ran out and climbed up onto the roof of the building,” he recalled.
“I organised two other parachute instructors to secure the aircraft while I dragged the pilot out of the wreckage and administered resuscitation.
“The paramedics arrived quickly but they couldn’t get to us because there was too much fuel spilled everywhere, so we had to wait for the firefighters first.”
Mr Hamilton-Presgrave said he acted on instinct during the rescue without thinking of the danger until he realised his shirt was wet.
“It was covered in the pilot’s blood and lots of petrol – one spark and we were all dead.
“Before that I hadn’t even thought about it, I just wanted to help the pilot.”
He said the bravery decoration had “come out of the blue”.
“I have no idea who nominated me but I’m very honoured.”
Mr Hamilton-Presgrave said his rescue experience had failed to dampen his love of skydiving.
“I know the risk is always there but it’s just like driving a car,” he said.
“You just hope and pray an accident won’t involve you but, really, if you’re going to shy away from experiences like this you may as well wrap yourself in cotton wool.
“Thirty-six years ago I decided I wanted to try one jump and 12,000 jumps later I’m still doing it.”