A fisherman's injury led to Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat making at 72 mile round trip to bring him ashore for treatment.
The skipper of the 86m, 2098 tonne French factory trawler Sandette called Humber Coastguard shortly before 11:00 on Sunday (October 2nd, 2016) for assistance after one of his crew member was thought to have suffered a broken ankle.
Tynemouth RNLI all weather lifeboat was requested to launch and set off at 11:11 on the 36 mile dash to the Sandette, which was also steaming closer to shore from her position east of the Northumberland coast.
Arriving at the vessel just over an hour after launching, the lifeboat crew found that the 43 year old fisherman was 'walking wounded' and was able to board the lifeboat by ladder, assisted by the volunteer crew members.
Once he was safely on board, the lifeboat made best speed back to the lifeboat station, where Fishermen's Mission Superintendent Peter Dade met the casualty and took him to the Emergency Care Centre at North Tyneside General Hospital, along with translator Gill Rutter, where he was diagnosed with two fractures in his right foot .
His leg was put in a temporary support boot and he was then put up in a Whitley Bay hotel for the night, thanks to the Mission and the shipping agent acting for his vessel.
On Monday morning he attended the fracture clinic at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, Cramlington where his foot was put in a cast.
The fisherman's company arranged for the casualty to fly home from Newcastle airport later on Monday afternoon.
Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station, said: 'The fisherman wasn't in any immediate danger so our all weather lifeboat was sent to evacuate him from the vessel, rather than a rescue helicopter being tasked.
'Weather conditions offshore were challenging but our Coxswain and volunteer crew used their experience to safely get the fisherman on board the lifeboat.
'Once he was back on dry land the Fisherman's Mission, also a charity, stepped in to do what they do best which is helping fishermen in distress.
'North Shields Mission Superintendent Peter Dade, assisted by translator Gill Rutter, arranged to get him to hospital, avoiding a lengthy wait for an ambulance, then liaised with his company to make sure he had somewhere to stay for the night and then return to hospital the following day for treatment, and then get him to the airport for his flight home.
'This was a great example of the RNLI, HM Coastguard and the Fishermen's Mission all working together to ensure the well-being of the casualty'
Ends
For more information please contact Adrian Don, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07834 731833.
Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station was established in 1862 although there have been lifeboats on the river Tyne since the world's first purpose built lifeboat was launched here in 1790. The station has 30 volunteer crew members who come from all walks of life. We operate two lifeboats: The Severn class all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland and our D class inshore lifeboat Mark Noble. You can find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/TynemouthRNLI or follow us on Twitter @TynemouthRNLI
Key facts about the RNLI
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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