The two most recent services for Bembridge RNLI have been medivacs.
RNLB 'Alfred Albert Williams' (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) last two services have both been medivacs from commercial ships.
A crew member on the dredger had suffered a suspected stroke and needed to be transferred to hospital. The transfer of the casualty, who didn’t speak any English, was very quick as he was able to walk and he was taken to the Camber in Portsmouth where they were met with by an ambulance.
The Alfred Albert Williams then returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 11.15am. It was new crew member, Steve Jones’ first shout.
On 5 January 2019 she launched at around 6.30pm at the request of UK Coastguard to carry out a medivac (an elderly female passenger had dislocated her shoulder) from the Cruise Ship Balmoral that was in the process of leaving Southampton Water bound for Lisbon.
The Alfred Albert Williams RV'd with the Balmoral off Stokes Bay at 6.35pm and the casualty was transferred on a stretcher to the Alfred Albert Williams via Balmoral's starboard pilot hatch. She and her husband were then taken into Portsmouth Camber and transferred to an ambulance.
The Alfred Albert Williams subsequently returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 8.45pm.
RNLI media contacts
Mike Samuelson, Bembridge RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07785 593254 or [email protected]
Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer London/East/South East) on 0207 6207416, 07785 296252 [email protected]
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer 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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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