Blackpool RNLI volunteers meet casualty they saved from drowning
On 4th January 2019 Blackpool RNLI volunteers rescued a young lady who had fallen from the sea wall near North Pier. The casualty was extremely poorly but has now made an incredible recovery; last night she visited the lifeboat station to meet some of the RNLI team that helped her.
On 4th January Blackpool’s RNLI volunteers were called out when a young lady fell from the sea wall near North Pier. They launched the lifeboat quickly and found her floating face down in the water. Within minutes the casualty was taken aboard the lifeboat and the RNLI volunteers started their efforts to resuscitate her. The lifeboat returned to shore and handed the casualty into the care of the North West Ambulance Service.
On Monday night (1st April) the casualty, Shelby, visited the lifeboat station to thank some of the team involved in saving her life.
RNLI volunteer crewmember Danny Sharratt said ‘we were thrilled to see Shelby at the lifeboat station last night. Last time we saw her she was extremely poorly so it’s wonderful to speak to her and see her looking so well. Meeting people we’ve helped makes all of the time and effort we put into our volunteer roles really worthwhile.’
RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Keith Horrocks MBE added ‘meeting Shelby last night was a real pleasure. At Blackpool lifeboat station we have a large team of really dedicated volunteers and every single one of them contributed to saving Shelby’s life in January. Our lifeboat crewmembers can’t carry out rescues without the launch and recovery drivers, launchers, station officials, fundraisers and shop volunteers that support them. I’m really proud of all of them.’
Photo
©RNLI/Blackpool
Blackpool RNLI volunteers meet casualty they rescued in January
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For more information please telephone Esther Lowe, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07917091948 or email [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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