RNLI Dart and Coastguard helicopter respond to a fishing crewman in sudden pain.
A 14 metre South Devon fishing boat alerted the Falmouth Coastguard when one of the three crew was suddenly taken ill and was in severe pain.
The Coastguard tasked the RNLI Dart D class inshore lifeboat and a Coastguard Sikorsky S92 SAR helicopter from Newquay. The fishing boat made best possible speed towards Dartmouth and two RNLI casualty care trained lifeboat crew went on board when she was two miles from the mouth of the Dart. The casualty was assessed and given casualty care, before his care was taken over by the Coastguard paramedic who was winched aboard approximately 10 minutes later. It was decided to land the casualty at the Kingswear Ferry landing and he was transferred to Torbay District Hospital by the waiting ambulance. The Coastguard paramedic was taken on the lifeboat to their recovery slip and returned to the helicopter which had landed in front of the lifeboat station in Coronation Park.
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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