... a ready-made classic, which will be read for years to come ... Kevin MyersWhat is it like to be part of a -helicopter rescue crew in bad -weather at night? David Courtney knows. A rescue pilot with some 300 missions under his belt, he has seen tragedy and triumph up close and personal. Nine Lives is an account of becoming a rescue pilot, from learning to fly to the thrills and terrors of dangerous and complicated night rescues. As the story unfolds David Courtney introduces the reader to the people who work with rescue crews, and how the entire system works. Courtney recounts his experiences, good and bad, in a way that is open and honest about fear, danger, disappointment, elation and happiness. Contrasting the extraordinary with the everyday, Courtney delves into day-to-day family life, showing how it can empower each of us to confront the dramatic.