Swanage lifeboat launches to assist divers suffering decompression sickness
Swanage's all-weather lifeboat was tasked to assist a local dive charter boat following a Mayday call.
The Coastguard helicopter had been requested to evacuate the casualties and the lifeboat was asked to assist in the process. The lifeboat launched, was quickly on scene and put a crewmember aboard the dive boat to get an update on the situation and assist with the winching operations.
The helicopter arrived a few minutes later and one at a time the divers were winched up. They were then flown to the decompression chamber in Poole for treatment. The lifeboat volunteers were then released to return to station.
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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