A FORMER helicopter winch operator becomes an MBE after helping to save countless lives during a 35-year career in air-sea rescue.
Nicholas Horst was a Royal Navy search and rescue crewman before landing a similar role with Bristow Helicopters, which operates a service for HM Coastguard at Lee-on-Solent.
Social media was awash with tributes from colleagues after he retired.
One person posted: "Today I got to bid farewell to someone who has had a huge influence on me, sharing years of experience and expertise. Nick Horst, chief aircrewman, is a living legend."
Another added: "The number of lives Nick has saved, many at great risk to himself, is unmeasurable."
Mr Horst, 65, of Fareham, told the Daily Echo: "It has been my privilege to work alongside incredibly hard-working and professional colleagues. I have been very lucky to be part of a wider team, including organisations like the RNLI, working together to serve the community.
"It has been a very rewarding 35-year career.
"It is very satisfying when you know you have made a difference and helped people in tricky situations when the arrival of the helicopter is often their last resort."
Some of Mr Horst's colleagues received a major award after saving 13 people were trapped on the Jurassic Skyline tower in Weymouth in 2017.
They were stranded 180ft above the ground when a rotating viewing platform became stuck.
Mr Horst nominated his fellow crewmen for the award. Speaking at the time he said: “There was a very high degree of skill involved in this rescue.
“The team had to cope with a very high hover and winching height, in fading light, for almost four hours.
"In a hugely challenging set of circumstances, including more than two hours of winching time, the crew successfully brought the group of very frightened people safely back to land."
Mr Horst was also instrumental in the creation of the Billy Deacon Memorial Trophy, which honours a winchman killed in the line of duty in 1997.
Mr Deacon died in mountainous seas off Shetland, having saved ten other lives. He was washed off a cargo vessel by a 50ft wave as he waited to be lifted to safety himself.
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