Looe RNLI lifeboat crew assists with two multi agency rescues
Volunteer crews with Looe RNLI launched their D class inshore lifeboat twice within six hours yesterday afternoon, Saturday 5 August, to assist in multi agency rescues. On both occasions the casualty was airlifted to hospital from East Looe beach by Devon Air Ambulance.
The first call of the afternoon was at 12.25pm when HM Coastguard received reports that a child had fallen from Pen Rocks between the main East Looe beach and second beach. Taking the D class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith onto East Looe beach with medical equipment on board, the volunteer crew along with Looe and Polruan coastguard teams and paramedics transferred the child with suspected head and arm injuries to the Devon Air Ambulance, which had landed on East Looe beach.
Later at 5.19pm whilst some of our volunteer crew were preparing for the town’s annual carnival, the coastguard requested Looe RNLI’s assistance with a search for a missing male swimmer last seen by the Banjo Pier. The charity’s inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith was launched to search the river, whilst Devon and Cornwall Police together with Looe and Polruan Coastguard teams searched the beach and quaysides. The middle aged man was found 30 minutes later on West Looe Quay.
Due to concerns that he had suffered a medical episode whilst in the water he was taken by the inshore lifeboat to Looe RNLI Lifeboat Station where he was assessed by the station’s doctor and paramedics who arranged for him to be airlifted to hospital. Coastguard teams prepared a safe landing area on East Looe beach for the Devon Air Ambulance.
Looe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Dave Haines commented that it was unusual for the air ambulance to land on East Looe beach, let alone twice in an afternoon.
He said: ‘These two incidents are a great example of the volunteer RNLI crew in Looe working alongside colleagues in the other emergency services to achieve the best possible outcome for the two casualties.'
Notes to editors
- Picture - Looe RNLI D class Ollie Naismith on East Looe beach with Devon Air Ambulance (1st incident). Please credit Bob Stark.
- Picture - Looe RNLI D class Ollie Naismith searching by West Looe Quay (2nd incident). Please credit Looe RNLI/Ian Foster.
- Picture - Devon Air Ambulance landing on East Looe beach (2nd incident). Please credit Looe RNLI/Ian Foster.
- For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website at www.looelifeboats.co.uk.
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For more information please telephone Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]
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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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