Falmouth RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew assist an injured crewman

The 7,642 tonne ship was on passage from Bilbao to Liverpool when a crewman sustained injuries requiring medical attention after falling in rough seas. The vessel diverted to Falmouth and, on arriving in the bay, took a pilot on board.

The all-weather lifeboat launched at 9.08pm and arrived on scene at 9.28pm in good visibility with a force 7 to 8 westerly wind and moderate sea. The pilot positioned the ship to provide a lee for the lifeboat to come alongside. Once this was established, three lifeboat crew members were transferred to assess the casualty who had already been placed in a stretcher by the ship’s crew.

Deputy Second Coxswain Dave Nicoll said: ‘We managed to carry out a safe transfer of the injured crewman to the lifeboat. This was made easier by the assistance of the pilot on board the ship by giving us a lee.’

At 9.41pm the lifeboat with the casualty now safely on board, headed back to Falmouth Lifeboat Station where he was taken ashore with the help of members of the Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team who had also been tasked to assist. After being assessed by paramedics, he was taken by ambulance to Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske for further treatment.

Notes to editors

• The lifeboat crew on this service were: Deputy Second Coxswain Dave Nicoll; Second Coxswain Luke Wills; Andy Jenkin; Tom Bird; Adrian Hingston; William Allen and Tamara Brookes.

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For more information please contact: Simon Culliford, RNLI Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07971986978, [email protected]; or Emma Haines Regional Media Officer on 07786 668847, [email protected] ; or contact RNLI Public Relations 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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