Hoylake Lifeboat takes casualty off angling boat.

The skipper of the charter boat Wave Dancer advised the Coastguard that one of his passengers had become ill in deteriorating sea conditions whilst they were off the North Wirral coast. He was concerned that she required medical attention when her condition worsened and requested RNLI lifeboat assistance.

Hoylake Lifeboat, Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood was launched together with the RNLI hovercraft, the latter in case she was required to back up the lifeboat as large areas of sandbanks were showing as it was approaching low water at the time.

The lifeboat made excellent time and was alongside the casualty at 3.50 pm. RNLI volunteers James Whiteley and Ian Davies were put on board the Wave Dancer to assess the casualty’s medical condition and after the assessment was complete she, and another passenger from the angling boat, were taken on board the lifeboat.

James later said that the experienced skipper of the angling boat had made the right decision to call the Coastguard when he did. “The casualty had an underlying medical condition which could have become much worse without prompt attention. Getting the casualty ashore to receive a full assessment was vital.”

The lifeboat was beached at Hoylake at 4.21 pm and was met by a paramedic who had been brought to the water’s edge by an RNLI tractor. The casualty was then brought to Hoylake Lifeboat Station to be handed over to the care of a waiting ambulance crew.

The lifeboat and hovercraft were then washed down and refuelled ready for their next service.

Notes to editors.

• Hoylake Lifeboat Station has been operating since 1803 and is one of the oldest in the country. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/hoylake or www.hoylakelifeboat.org.uk/
• Lifeboat Operations Manager Dave Whiteley and Coxswain/Mechanic Andy Dodd are available for interview by arrangement.

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• Hoylake RNLI Volunteer Press Officer Peter Ruddell, on 07974 800 106 peter_ruddell@rnli.org.uk
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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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