Margate RNLI assists injured fisherman

A commercial fishing vessel with two persons on board contacted UK Coastguard early this afternoon (Wednesday 15 November) reporting that one of the crew had suffered a back injury while handling fishing gear. He was in some pain and medical assistance was requested. The fishing vessel was around 15 miles off the north Kent coast at the time and Margate’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat along with the coastguard rescue helicopter were tasked to assist.

Once on scene the helicopter transferred its winchman/paramedic, and the lifeboat transferred one of its crew who is a paramedic with South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMS) to the fishing vessel to assess the casualty. After casualty care had been provided it was decided to transfer the fisherman back to shore on board the lifeboat, under the care of the helicopter paramedic and lifeboat crew. An additional lifeboatman was put aboard the fishing vessel to assist its safe return to Ramsgate.

Upon arrival at Ramsgate Port the casualty was handed into the care of SECAMS personnel for transfer to hospital. The coastguard helicopter landed at the port to recover its winchman and the lifeboat returned to station.

Nick Smith, Deputy Launching Authority Margate lifeboat said: ‘This was a tricky operation requiring careful planning by all involved. The presence of the helicopter paramedic and our own lifeboat crewmember who is a paramedic allowed for the best possible care to be provided to the casualty.’

Photo caption: Margate’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat stands by while the Coastguard helicopter transfers a stretcher to the fishing vessel (RNLI/Karl Davey)

ENDS

RNLI Media contacts

• Peter Barker, RNLI Margate Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07974 064304 [email protected]

• Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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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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