Sick Sailor Evacuated by Kinghorn RNLI

The lifeboat was called at 4.22pm after the coastguard received a call for assistance reporting that a crewmember was suffering from a deteriorating medical condition on the product tanker Christian Essberger.

The lifeboat launched at 4.30pm and was alongside the 100m long tanker six minutes later where the casualty was able to make his way down the ladder onto the lifeboat.

Helm, Scott McIlravie said, ‘we were quickly alongside the tanker and fortunately the casualty was able to climb down the ladder unaided. We prepared him for the short journey back to Kinghorn and returned to the lifeboat station.

‘Our casualty care trained crew assessed and looked after the casualty until an ambulance arrived. He was taken to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for further treatment.

‘This was a successful job for our RNLI volunteers and we were able to get the casualty ashore for urgent treatment as quickly as possible.’

Notes to editors

• Kinghorn lifeboat station has been operating since 1965. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/kinghorn
• A video of an Atlantic 85 lifeboat can be viewed at http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/press_centre/videos/video_detail?articleid=321844&category=&region=&listing
• A video of the call is available here:

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Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642986, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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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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