Hoylake RNLI hovercraft assists injured walker on Middle Eye
The volunteer crew of Hoylake RNLI hovercraft were tasked by UK Coastguard at 12.35pm on Wednesday 17 October following reports of a person requiring medical assistance on Middle Eye in the Dee Estuary.
The casualty was part of a walking party of around 30 people that had been making its way to Hilbre Island. While passing around Middle Eye, the casualty had slipped on wet rocks and was reportedly experiencing pain in her left hip.
Hoylake's inshore rescue hovercraft Hurley Spirit launched immediately and arrived on scene at Middle Eye shortly afterwards, where the volunteer crew checked her injuries and administered casualty care. The casualty was carefully placed into a stretcher and transferred on board the hovercraft, before being flown ashore along with a companion.
The casualty was brought to Dee Lane Slipway in West Kirby and was passed to the care of waiting North West Ambulance Service paramedics and officers from the Wirral and Flint Coastguard Rescue Teams.
Volunteer hovercraft pilot Matt Schanck said:
'The walk between the Hilbre Islands can sometimes be quite hazardous, especially after the tide has been in. Even experienced walkers can get into difficulty, so it is always worth taking additional care when crossing between the islands.'
Matt added: 'Our volunteer crew train regularly for casualty care and medical evacuation scenarios. Working together, we were able to make sure the casualty was transferred ashore as safely and comfortably as possible to the paramedics, who praised our volunteers for their professionalism.'
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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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