Operation Sumatra Assist

Operation Sumatra Assist was the Australian Defence Force's (ADFs) contribution to disaster relief in Indonesia following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. ADF personnel were deployed within hours of the earthquake. They served mainly in Aceh province of Indonesia. Medical and engineering staff were prominent, with helicopters and cargo aircraft, supported offshore by HMAS Kanimbla and its two Sea King helicopters.

Phase 2
At about 0930UTC 2 April 2005, Sea King helicopter Shark 02 crashed on the island of Nias off the west coast of Sumatra in Indonesia during the humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of the 2005 Sumatra earthquake. Nine Australian Defence Force personnel were killed (seven men and two women); reports say there were 6 Navy and 3 Air Force personnel. Two others were recovered alive from the site by the other Sea King operating from HMAS Kanimbla and transferred to it for medical assistance in its hospital facilities.