Three call outs in one day for Oban Lifeboat
A busy day for the volunteer crew of Oban lifeboat yesterday (Wednesday 17 July), launching on service three times to separate incidents.
Oban RNLI lifeboat ‘Mora Edith MacDonald’ was initially called upon by UK Coastguard yesterday morning to assist in a search of the Sound of Iona after a kayak was discovered the previous evening. The lifeboat launched at 9.53am, returning to station by 12.45pm.
The second call out of the day came at 9.07pm that evening. The volunteer crew launched to a medical evacuation of one person from Craignure, Isle of Mull. Craignure’s Coastguard Rescue Team assisted as the casualty was transferred safely to the lifeboat and into the care of our crew member/doctor, for the journey back to Oban. Once back at the lifeboat’s berth, Oban’s Coastguard Rescue Team assisted as the casualty was transferred to an ambulance for onwards travel to the hospital. The lifeboat was made ready for service again by 11pm.
Just 5 hours after the second call out, the volunteer crew were called upon again. At 4.29am UK Coastguard requested the launch of Oban lifeboat to assist with evacuating another person from Craignure, Isle of Mull. The volunteer crew departed the berth with two paramedics on board, Craignure’s Coastguard Rescue Team assisted as the lifeboat berthed alongside at Craignure, the casualty was transferred shortly after and the lifeboat made best speed back towards Oban. With the casualty transferred onto a waiting ambulance, the lifeboat was refuelled and made ready for service again by 6.15am.
A total of nearly 7 hours at sea in the space of 24 hours for Oban lifeboat and 47 call outs in total this year so far.
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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