Scarborough RNLI is involved in a multi-agency search near cliffs
Scarborough RNLI was called out yesterday (Thursday 14 April) when the coastguard reported ‘a despondent female’ on cliffs just north of the town.
‘We couldn’t see her and it was tricky, manoeuvring between the rocks,’ said helmsman Craig Burnett. ‘The boat was getting bounced around.’
The crew couldn’t spot anyone from the boat so Mr Burnett, a professional paramedic, went ashore, handing control of the craft to Rudi Barman. The coastguards arrived at about the same time.
A police helicopter had joined the search and eventually spotted the woman, believed to be in her 50s, at the bottom of the 30ft cliffs.
With great difficulty, Mr Burnett and about six Coastguards placed the casualty on a stretcher and transferred her to the lifeboat.
‘It was quite a hard extraction and the Coastguards were absolutely invaluable; they did a great job’ said Mr Burnett. ‘The casualty was conscious but looked hypothermic and we couldn’t tell if she had injured her spine.’
The woman was taken to the north beach where paramedics and an ambulance were waiting to take her to hospital.
The third crew member aboard the lifeboat was Kyle Patel.
RNLI Media contacts
For further details, ring Scarborough RNLI press officer Dave Barry on 07890 322992.
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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
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