Medivac call for Scarborough’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat.
Scarborough’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat was paged at 9.37am on 28 May 2012 at the request of Humber Coastguard following a call they had received from a rig support vessel requesting the evacuation of an injured crew member to hospital.
Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Scarborough’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat Fanny Victoria Wilkinson & Frank Stubbs. They had received a call from a rig support vessel asking for a medical evacuation of an injured crew member they gave their position as about 30 miles East of Scarborough.
Scarborough Lifeboat arrived with the casualty about 2 hours after launching, transferred the casualty to the lifeboat and then commenced the return trip to Scarborough Harbour. On arrival back in Scarborough an ambulance was waiting and the casualty was transferred into the ambulance and taken to hospital.
The lifeboat was released by Humber Coastguard returned to station where it was made ready for the next callout.
The reason for the use of a lifeboat rather than a helicopter for this rescue was due to the weather conditions as there was intermittent thick fog in the area of the casualty which could have prevented a helicopter evacuation.
RNLI lifeboats carry three pieces of electronic equipment which enable the crew to locate vessels even in thick fog. They are a radio direction finding receiver which gives the compass bearing of the direction that a radio signal from the casualty is coming from. Next is radar - this not only gives the direction that the casualty is from the lifeboat but also the distance. Finally the plotter, an electronic chart where the crew input the casualty's position; once this position has been input the crew can give an accurate time of arrival to the casualty which can be very reassuring to them. This information is also passed to the Coastguard who will be coordinating the rescue.
The lifeboat was released by Humber Coastguard and returned to station where it was made ready for the next callout.
Notes to editors
Scarborough’s All Weather Lifeboat Fanny Victoria Wilkinson & Frank Stubbs was provided by a legacy. Legacies account for around 60% of the income received by the RNLI.
Scarborough’s Inshore Lifeboat John Wesley Hillard III was provided by a generous donation from the Gay and Peter Hartley’s Hillards Charitable Trust.
Scarborough lifeboat station has been operating since 1801 and is the third oldest operational station in the Country
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone John Porter, RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (voluntary) on 07789 502716 or Alison Levett, RNLI Media Relations Manager North on 07786668912 email: alevett@rnli.org.uk