Teamwork from Emergency Services saves women’s life
The volunteer crew of Brighton lifeboat were tasked last night (Tuesday 7th November) after reports from Sussex Police of a female entering the water near Coalition night club on Brighton seafront.
Within seven minutes of the initial reports Brighton lifeboat were on-scene and with help of Sussex Police guiding the lifeboat with their flash lights the lifeboat spotted the casualty in the waves 50m away from the shoreline.
Due to the low tide and breaking waves the lifeboat was unable to get closer enough to the casualty to pull them to safety so the decision was made to put a crew member into the water to aid the casualty.
Crewmember Roland swam 10metres inshore and managed to get hold of the casualty who was now in and out of consciousness and struggling to stay afloat. The rescue saw Roland swim a further 40m inshore to get the casualty to safety. On reaching the shore Roland was assisted by Sussex Police in recovering the women to a safe point on the beach.
The casualty was passed over to South East Coast Ambulance and taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital for further treatment.
Volunteer coastguard officers from Shoreham and Newhaven equally attended and assisted in carrying the casualty to the ambulance from the shore.
Brighton lifeboat was stood down at 9.11pm
Roger Cohen Lifeboats Operations Manager for Brighton Lifeboat said ‘This was excellent result for the emergency services last night, with clearly a life being saved by the actions of the Lifeboat crew and the other Services. Fortunately, the Lifeboat crew were at station attending their regular training night and were able to give an immediate response to the incident. We hope the individual recovers from this event and receives the appropriate care.’
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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