RNLI lifeboat training put to good use during dramatic on land incident
Volunteers at Aberystwyth RNLI Lifeboat Station had a special visitor last week, when a lady they attended to during a serious road collision called by to say thank you.
On the 4 January 2016, Amy Best, who is a student at Aberystwyth University was involved in a serious road traffic collision in the town. Two of the volunteer Aberystwyth lifeboat crew, Paul Williams and Nick Thomson, were near the scene and used their RNLI casualty care training to assist treating Amy, alongside paramedics, one of whom, Ian Brandreth is also a crew member.
Amy visited the station along with her mum to thank the crew for what they did that day. She is continuing to study for her Masters at Aberystwyth and also plays ladies rugby for the University. Amy hopes to raise money for the station through her rugby activities and become more involved with Aberystwyth RNLI when she returns to the locality in September.
Mark Morgan, Aberystwyth RNLI Branch Chairman said ‘Amy is adamant that Paul and Nick's actions, along with the expert professional assistance given by crew member Ian Brandreth saved her life that day. We've a great crew here and we're proud of them. Some people may have walked away from this situation but Paul and Nick stepped in without a second thought. It says a lot about the ethos of our RNLI volunteers. Our crews receive extensive training in casualty care to use during their call outs, in this case they the crew could use that training on the dry land.
Amy endured many months of surgery and rehabilitation following her accident. She graduated at Aberystwyth University last week. I need say no more about her positive resilience and determination to overcome and succeed’.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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