A massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Padang, Indonesia on 30 September 2009. This was followed by another 6.8-magnitude aftershock on 1 October. Led by LTC Kadir Maideen, Commander of 2nd CD Division, a 42-strong SCDF rescue contingent, codenamed Operation Lionheart, was immediately deployed to Padang from 2 to 8 October to assist in the rescue operations.

Using equipment like the fibre-optic scopes and pneumatic drills, and deploying search dogs, the contingent conducted search operations at numerous sites of collapsed buildings. These included a bank, a library, and the Hotel Dipo International. In addition, a SCDF medical doctor and two paramedics provided field medical treatment to the victims.

This is the 11th overseas rescue mission by the contingent since 1990, and its second since attaining the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team certification from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) in January 2008.