Dornoch local hero interviewed for radio
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He is used to being on air - but usually dangling perilously on a thin wire above a raging sea.
But now Dornoch-raised Chris Murray is taking to a different kind of air waves.
He is to be the focus of a special BBC Radio Scotland Out for the Weekend programme on May 17 - between 2pm and 4pm - which is celebrating his life as a former coastguard winchman and his other exploits.
In fact Chris's bravery brought him recognition at the highest level in the form of the Queen's Gallantry Medal for one particularly hair-raising rescue as a winchman aboard a Coastguard helicopter.
His seminal book Winchman https://www.amazon.co.uk/Winchman-Chris-Murray/dp/1905916655 is now also being republished.
"I have had an action packed life at times and the BBC thought it would make a good subject - especially with my book being re-published," said Chris.
"I plan to be talking about my times in Dornoch too. I enjoyed my time as a winchman - it did have many moments of difficult rescues."
But at the age of 68 - when most people are winding down - the adventurer is to be found taking similar risks, this time in pursuit of his favourite passion, wildlife photography.
And the results have been stunning for Chris - who will spend the summer driving a fast tourist boat for Seafari out of Stornoway on Lewis where he lives.
That has given him the opportunity to capture whales, dolphins, sea eagles and a whole range of other wildlife.
The former Royal Navy mine clearance diver still dives to photograph sealife and wrecks.
"I am an adventurer and I would say I was an adrenaline junkie, and always have been," said Chris.
"I just love photography and wildlife and the natural environment.
"I don't put myself in unnecessary risks but on one occasion I almost came a cropper at the Butt of Lewis lighthouse in 70mph winds.
"I have done dangerous things in my life, and I will take calculated risks to get a good picture - but I don't want to fall off a cliff and kill myself."
Chris thought he had retired early as a helicopter winchman in 2009 after smashing his elbow on a rescue aboard French fishing vessel, Jackabry, off the Butt of Lewis.
But a couple of years ago he was brought out of retirement to form part of a team to help train the next generation of Coastguard search and rescue helicopter crew. That contract finished a few weeks ago and he is now finally "retired" as a winchman.
Chris joined up the Navy an ordinary seaman and after his initial training went on to become a clearance diver, one of the most dangerous peace-time occupations.
And Chris carried out more than 750 search and rescue missions with Coastguard helicopters around the UK.
He carried out many daring and perilous rescues, such as in 1995 when he was washed overboard minus his line.
"We had to go out one night in bad weather to rescue a seriously ill crewman off the fishing boat Moraime, which was 165 miles west of Lewis," he said. "The sea conditions were pretty atrocious and during the operation we had to return to Benbecula to refuel. On our return I managed to get on deck and unhooked the wire. But then I was thrown overboard by a huge wave. I narrowly missed the ship's propellers.
"It was 15 minutes before the helicopter found me and I was able to re-hook myself. I went straight back onto the boat and completed the rescue operation. We made it back to Stornoway but it took nine hours in all."
He had also been involved in quite a few animal rescues, including that of a cow which had somehow become marooned on a cliff face.
But the part he played in rescuing the crew of the German fishing boat, Hansa, which sank in 2001 about 200 miles from Benbecula, led to his bravery being officially recognised. Six of the crew died and nine others took to a life raft in heavy seas.
Chris was lowered to the life raft and evacuated all nine survivors to the helicopter, despite suffering a painful shoulder injury. He received the Queen's Gallantry Medal while the other three members of his team were awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air for keeping the helicopter in position in gale force winds and heavy swells.
When the helicopter eventually landed in Benbecula, it had only five minutes' worth of fuel left.
