Barrow RNLI Lifeboat called to undertake medical evacuation

The call for assistance came from HM Coastguard at Holyhead at 6-25am. The information received was that a lone yachtsman on board a 25 foot (7.6 metres) yacht had become unwell and required a medical evacuation. The yacht was moored in Walney Channel off Piel Island. The crew was paged and the inshore lifeboat, Vision of Tamworth, was launched at 6-32 with Dave Kell at the helm assisted by Adam Cleasby and Saul Tomlin.

The Vision of Tamworth was on the scene within a few minutes and the casualty was transferred safely to the lifeboat and brought back to the lifeboat station. The casualty was then placed in the care of the North West Ambulance Service. Furness Coastguard also attended the Lifeboat Station to provide assistance if required.

By 7-10am, the Vision of Tamworth had been re-housed at the lifeboat station and made ready for the next launch.

The wind at the time of the incident was southerly, Force 2, and the high tide had been at 3-56am with a height of 9.2 metres.

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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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