Prince William has announced he will join the many heroic and dedicated men and women, some often volunteers, in the emergency services as a career Search and Rescue Pilot.

William, a lieutenant in the army, will begin an 18-month training program with the Royal Air Force (RAF) to fly Sea King rescue helicopters.

The Sea King helicopter is used mostly for civilian rescue operations like flood relief, ship strandings, and finding injured or lost mountain climbers.

‘Joining Search and Rescue is a perfect opportunity for me to serve in the forces operationally, while contributing to a vital part of the country’s emergency services,’ Prince William said in a statement.