Weymouth RNLI lifeboat launched to injured fisherman
Solent Coastguard requested that Weymouth lifeboat launch to go to the aid of a vessel approximately 12 miles South West of Portland Bill. Weymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched at 06.30am on Thursday 13th December 2018 to reports of an injured crew member on an Irish fishing boat.
The Coastguard helicopter was also tasked to go to the same vessel. They managed to get the paramedic winchman onto the fishing boat to treat the injured man but due to the severe sea and wind conditions, (a SSW gale with 3-4 metre swell), and the layout of the vessel they were unable to get the causality off and up into the helicopter.
Once the lifeboat was on scene it became apparent that the only option would be to transfer the causality and winchman onto the lifeboat and from there up into the helicopter. This is something that is practiced a lot in training and is quite common in many shouts that the volunteer lifeboat crew deal with. Due to the large swell running and the force 7/8 SSE wind, on this occasion it was a particularly challenging manoeuvre but was carried out without too much difficulty.
With the causality on the helicopter and enroute to hospital the lifeboat returned to Weymouth harbour arriving at 10.10am.
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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