It wasn't a real-life rescue you may have spotted off the coast of Merewether on Monday morning, but it's what one would look like.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew conducted training operations with NSW Police Marine Command, using a lifelike practice dummy the size and weight of a typical person to simulate coordinated rescue scenarios ahead of summer.
The chopper service will train with lifeguards on jet skis off the coast of Caves Beach on Friday, during another drill session.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesman Graham Nickisson said the training periods took place twice a year and were designed to help improve inter-agency responses to emergency scenarios.
"It's just to make sure we keep maintaining our currency and are all singing from same hymn book," Mr Nickisson said.
"It's very realistic, from the time they get the call to the time [the dummy is] recovered into the aircraft. It's good for everyone."
