
Sheerness RNLI lifeboat volunteers remove injured passenger in the Thames Estuar
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness all-weather lifeboat (ALB) ‘George and Ivy Swanson’ were called to assist an elderly lady who had fallen and injured herself aboard a vessel in the Thames Estuary
The lifeboat crew were called at 11.50am on Saturday 28 May to assist a 72-year-old lady who had sustained injuries to her arm and shoulder after falling down steps leading to the cabin aboard the 36’ ketch 'Romteskip'.
The vessel, with five persons, on board had been travelling from Queenborough to London when the accident happened and was now located in the vicinity of No.7 Sea Reach Buoy opposite Canvey Island in the Thames estuary.
Coming alongside the ketch, three casualty care trained lifeboat crew members boarded the craft to assess and immobilise the casualty’s injuries.
Deputy 2nd coxswain Clive Hancock said: ‘The lady was in severe pain but able to walk with assistance and the decision was made to transfer her to the lifeboat and bring her back to the lifeboat station in the Sheerness dockyard where a Kent Ambulance crew, who had been alerted to the situation, were waiting.’
The ALB was back on station at 1.20pm and the casualty was transferred into the care of the Ambulance Service.
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