Weymouth lifeboat called to sailor with head injury

Solent Coastguard had reported that a 32' yacht from Poole, which was sailing to Weymouth when the 70 year old skipper had been struck by the boom.

On scene at 12.42pm, approx 4 miles South of Bats Head, the Coxswain went alongside of the yacht and transferred two of the lifeboat volunteer crew onto the yacht to assess the casualty.

The rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent, which had also been tasked to go the yacht, dropped the paramedic winch man onto the lifeboat who then also transferred to the yacht.

It was felt that casualty needed to go to hospital for treatment. At this time the lifeboat was not very far from Weymouth Harbour so it was decided to proceed back to port as soon as possible.

Arriving back at Weymouth the lifeboat crew were able to pass the casualty to a waiting ambulance for transfer to DCH.

In the mean time the crew from the lifeboat who had transferred to the yacht helped the other inexperienced crew of the yacht sail back to Weymouth.

Once the casualty was on his way to hospital the lifeboat proceeded back out into Weymouth Bay and transferred the winch man back up into the helicopter.

The lifeboat crew returned to station and made ready for the next shout at 2.39pm.

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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