Arran RNLI Lifeboat rescues injured walkers on the Kildonan Coast.

Arran RNLI in-shore lifeboat Rachel Hedderwick launched at 2pm, made way to Bennan Head in challenging conditions and located the casualty on the foreshore at the foot of the cliffs. Two of the lifeboat crew then went ashore to perform an initial assessment of the casualty.

After ascertaining the casualty had a serious lower leg injury the lifeboat crew worked with the Arran Mountain Rescue Team and Arran Coastguard Rescue Team to get the casualty ready to be evacuated by Rescue Helicopter 999.

Rescue 999 arrived on scene and winched the casualty to safety, transferring them to Crosshouse Hospital for further medical treatment.

The lifeboat crew then had to return to the lifeboat under extremely difficult tidal conditions with waves of up to 6-8ft hindering the recovery of the crew.

Arran RNLI crew member Dave Nicholson said “A great outcome under challenging conditions, the multi-agency teamwork today was especially beneficial to the casualty and shows why we regularly train with our partner agencies.”

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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