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Oban lifeboat called to two sailors injured on a yacht

Lifeboats News Release

Oban lifeboat was tasked shortly before 3.20pm this afternoon to go to a yacht in the Firth of Lorne with two people on board, both of whom had sustained head injuries.

A photo of The Campbell-Watson taken in the Firth of Lorne from nearby Battleship Hill on a sunny day with high winds

RNLI/Stephen Lawson

Library photo of The Campbell-Watson taken in the Firth of Lorne from nearby Battleship Hill in Oban

The volunteer crew of 13-50 The Campbell-Watson, Oban’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, launched less than ten minutes after being paged.

On scene, meeting the yacht off Lismore lighthouse, it was decided to transfer one of the lifeboat crew, a casualty care specialist, onto the yacht to assess the injured people.

It was established that both casualties had sustained head injuries from a swinging boom and needed hospital treatment.

Due to the nearing proximity to Oban, the decision was made to escort the vessel to safety with the lifeboat crew member onboard assisting.

Once inside Oban Bay, and in calmer waters, a second crew member was transferred across to help bring the vessel to moor at the North Pier pontoons, where the two injured people were handed into the care of the crew of a waiting ambulance.

The operation was completed and Oban lifeboat was back alongside and ready for service again by 4.55pm.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officers for RNLI in Oban John Macgill, [email protected] or Stephen Lawson [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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