Paramedic proves his worth as pager sounds twice in one morning for Gorleston
Volunteer crews on both the station's boats were called into action on 11 August, for a vessel aground and a medical evacuation.
The RNLI’s inshore lifeboat at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston was tasked at 8:48am on 11 August 2019 by UK Coastguard, to reports of a vessel experiencing engine failure on Breydon Water, later followed by a second paging for the all-weather lifeboat at 11:29am by UK Coastguard to a medical evacuation offshore.
The Atlantic 75 Pride of Leicester with its volunteer crew on board made their way to the first casualty vessel. It was reported they had suffered engine failure. On arrival it was understood that they were aground due to the high winds over the past few days.
The two persons on board who owned the cruiser were trying to navigate their way from the Berney Arms to their next mooring and became the subject of the high winds.
On arrival, Helmsman Rod Wells tried to remove the vessel from the mud but the tide was too low, and the couple were taken off the cruiser.
They were handed over to Gorleston Coastguard team for their boat to be recovered at high tide.
The second shout, this time for the all-weather Lifeboat Samarbeta was to reports of a 41 year old man experiencing chest pains offshore.
The lifeboat proceeded to the vessel's position and met with them in the Holm Channel, where crew member Rod Wells was put on board to assess the casualty and administer casualty care.
It was decided the casualty needed to be evacuated immediately due to the nature of his illness. The casualty, along with crew, transferred over to the all-weather lifeboat where they proceeded back to the lifeboat station to be met by the East of England Ambulance Service.
The casualty was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
A busy morning for the crew and especially Rod Wells, not only a volunteer Helmsman and Coxswain but a Critical Care Paramedic for East Anglian Air Ambulance who we are extremely fortunate to have at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.
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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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