Carrybridge RNLI exercise with the passenger vessel, Inishcruiser

The weather couldn’t have been better with flat calm conditions.

When the lifeboat first arrived a tow was established for the volunteer crew to practise moving a boat as big. A side by side tow, a tow where the lifeboat is tied alongside another boat, was setup so the crew could then try turning the vessel. The much smaller lifeboat was able to complete this with ease.

The lifeboat and its crew then moved away from the Inishcruiser and waited until called for the next part of the exercise, casualty care. Already on the Inishcruiser were three volunteer crew who along with three crew from the lifeboat found a lady in a wheel chair that needed assistance but also a man, face down, with chest pain. Casualty care was administered to both casualties with the man who had a suspected heart attack being treated using the equipment carried by the lifeboat.

During this time the staff from Share along with lifeboat crew who had been acting as passengers, evacuated the passenger boat into two waiting boats which made several runs back to the centre. The lady in the wheelchair was lifted from her chair into the boat followed by the man with the chest pain who was transported back to the land in the lifeboat.

Speaking following the exercise, Stephen Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Carrybridge RNLI said: ‘‘We would like to thank the staff from Share Discovery Village for helping to arrange this very valuable exercise. It gave our crew a great opportunity to work with a bigger vessel as well as working with a large amount of people including the two casualties who played the part extremely well. We would also like to remind everyone that if you see someone in trouble on the water or are in difficulties yourself the number to dial is: 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’’

Ends

Notes to editors

• Carrybridge Lifeboat Station was started in 2002 on Upper Lough Erne. It currently operates an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat and a Rescue Water Craft

  RNLI media contacts

  For more information please telephone Stephen Scott, Carrybridge RNLI Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07786228968, email [email protected] or Chris Cathcart, Carrybridge RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07595895908, email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Regional Media Officer Ireland on 00353876483547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Regional Media Manager Ireland on 00353871254124 or [email protected]
  
  

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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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