winchman

A winchman operates a winch, which is a mechanical device used to pull, lift, or lower heavy loads by winding cable or rope around a drum.

The term appears most often in rescue contexts, particularly for the crew member on a helicopter who controls the winch during search-and-rescue operations, lowering themselves or equipment to retrieve people from ships, mountains, or floodwaters.

The winchman was lowered to the stranded climbers.