Tower RNLI lifeboat in race against time to rescue woman trapped under barge
Tower RNLI lifeboat crew rescued a woman who had fallen into the Thames on Sunday afternoon (Sunday 31 March).
The woman had fallen into the river from the Tattershall Castle floating pub on Victoria Embankment near Westminster and became trapped alongside a large 95ft barge.
Tower lifeboat crew launched at 4.27pm and on reaching the scene it became clear that the woman’s life was in grave danger from drowning or being crushed by the barge. Due to the casualty’s location and tidal conditions there was no other vessel that would have been able to access her. Furthermore, landside rescue units would have taken considerable time which, given the situation, was not available.
The woman was recovered from the water by the crew at 4.32pm and was given first aid onboard before being handed over to London Ambulance Service at Lifeboat Pier.
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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