For 10 years Chris Rintoul, a social worker in Belfast, had lived with trauma, guilt and gratitude: trauma over his experience on Horn Head, Co Donegal, in 1993; guilt for surviving the horrendous fall which claimed the life of his close friend, Peter King; and immense gratitude to the four aircrew who risked their lives to save him as he clung desperately to the scrub grass which was between him and a 250-300 foot sheer drop.

His first child was born on September 26th, 2003 - 10 years and a day after that experience.

"It took me a long time to recover from it, and to cope with the fact that I made it and Peter didn't. For years I tried to blot it out, only to realise that I had to start acknowledging and remembering. I remember that I held on to the winchman's ribs so tightly that he was bruised afterwards - his injuries were worse than mine!

"The aircrew literally put their lives out for me. I often think there could have been six dead there that day.

"I have them to thank for my entire life and that isn't something you can say to many people.

"Not only were they courageous and highly professional, but they were also very sensitive - on the day and afterwards at the inquest into Peter's death.

"It is that sensitivity, that humanity, that I was struck by most."