Lifeguards attend to elderly lady injured after fall
RNLI lifeguard on Weymouth beach attended to an elderly lady yesterday afternoon who fell from her wheelchair
Requested by Wyke Regis Coastguard Rescue Team for assistance near the Pavilion. Lifeguard Barney responded, and monitored the casualty who was ‘a little sick’ but in a great deal pain. Due to the amount of pain, and the casualty being in a very awkward and uncomfortable position in the road on a very hot day, it was decided that Coastguard Rescue helicopter 106 should airlift her to hospital. Once tasked they were on scene within a few minutes, where the ambulance crews, our local bike paramedic and Wyke Regis coastguard volunteers helped transfer her to the aircraft.
As with Wyke Regis CRT, we also would also like to thank the members of public who gave up their time to help a stranger. The off duty nurse and the holidaying couple who remained with the casualty throughout, offering her shelter from the sun to managing bystanders.
Alice Higgins, Lifeguard Supervisor, said:
“As lifeguards we are provided with world class training so are always prepared and able to attend to first aid situations such as this. This was a great example of mutli-agency working as we were able to monitor the casualty until the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter arrived.”
“To all the beach goer's who moved without complaint when asked to clear an area by Wyke Regis coastguard volunteers, Beach Control, Pedalo staff and lifeguard Supervisor, so to allow the helicopter to land. Thank you!”
When setting up the beach earlier in the day, senior lifeguard Josh saw Weymouth Lifeboats launch, went onto co-ordinate with the coxswain of Weymouth Lifeboat and Solent Coastguard to help in the search for a missing person. Directing helm Barney and crew Matthew in the Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) to carry out a creeping line search between Overcombe corner back towards Weymouth Beach. Not long after the IRB had returned to base, Barney attended the incident near the Pavilion.
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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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