Girvan Lifeboat Crew Assist with Medical Emergency

At around 16:30pm, our volunteer crew, who were on station preparing for our Harbour Gala weekend were alerted to a medical emergency near the lifeboat station, where a Casualty presented himself, accompanied by his family complaining of jellyfish stings to approx 70% of his body.

With the casualty very distressed and in a worsening condition Girvan lifeboat crew administered casualty care first aid to the casualty and assessed and treated the casualty utilising the high level of training all our crew receive from the RNLI.

After further assessment an ambulance was called to attend.

With the ambulance arriving on scene the casualty was then transferred to the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service paramedics, where it was then established that further urgent care may be required, with the immediate despatch of Helimed5 The Scottish Air Ambulance Charities Helicopter.

Girvan lifeboat volunteer crew requested by the land ambulance crew to establish a safe landing zone and keep the growing crowd of people who had gathered nearby at a safe distance awaiting the arrival of the Helimed5 Air Ambulance with critical care doctors and paramedics on board.

Once the air ambulance arrived on scene, the lifeboat crew continue to protect the landing zone while critical care doctors assessed the casualty, with the casualty showing a slight sign of improvement after intervention the decision was taken to transport the casualty by road, and the ambulance left for Crosshouse hospital.

The lifeboat crew remained on scene to make the area safe until helimed air ambulance departed around 18:45

The crew then returned to the station to continue preparations for the Gala weekend.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.