Swanage volunteer lifeboat crew paged during church service for Medivac.
Swanage annual civic service had just started at 3 pm, the first hymn sung, and the pagers sounded for a both boats medivac at Chapmans Pool. A 40-year-old male with severe allergic reaction and low blood pressure needed to be extracted as soon as possible to the hospital.
UK Coastguard on scene had concerns regarding a helicopter landing in the confines of Chapmans Pool due to the state of the tide. The Coastguard decided to have the lifeboats standby for an extraction to the helicopter by transfer from the lifeboat at sea,
After making best speed the lifeboats were on scene at 3:36 pm. Coastguard Rescue 185 surveyed the area and decided to attempt a landing before going for the extraction by sea. The tide had receded enough to allow for a successful landing. With the casualty onboard Rescue 185 lifted off for hospital at 4:03 pm when the lifeboats were stood down to return to the lifeboat station.
With the lifeboats back on the slipway at 4:24 pm they were washed down and made ready for service.
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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