Back to back calls for Poole lifeboat volunteers

Once tied alongside and safe, the lifeboat returned to station and after refuelling and made ready for service the volunteers returned home by 6pm however that next service was quite soon after just before 7.30pm.

The UK coastguard requested both Poole lifeboats to launch to a person who was reported to have encountered a head injury and was on the south side of Furzey Island.

The Lifeboats made good speed and were soon on scene, an elderly man and his son had been sailing in a 16ft sailing boat when it had capsized, and then the gentleman had hurt his head

Volunteer crew went ashore and administered casualty care, the gentleman was cold and in discomfort, the crew prepared the casualty for a medical evacuation and made him comfortable and secure on a basket stretcher and had requested an ambulance.

The casualty was transferred from Furzey Island by the Atlantic 85, to an awaiting ambulance at North Haven Steps. The volunteers from Poole search and rescue Coastguard were there to greet the lifeboat and help transfer the casualty from the lifeboat across into the care of the ambulance crew, who then took him to Poole Hospital.

Meanwhile the D Class had recovered the casualties sailing boat and towed it back to North Haven slipway. We all wish the casualty a speedy recovery.

As the sun set, the lifeboats returned to the station and prepared the lifeboats for service.

In these challenging times the RNLI has set robust procedures that the lifeboat volunteers are adhering to so that the lifeboat crews can launch and operate safely whilst maintaining social distancing where practically possible, to keep everyone safe. Today on both call outs, our crew wore PPE and after the ‘shout’ a thorough clean down was required so this evening the volunteers did not leave the station until almost 11pm.

We are doing our utmost to keep our casualties and our colleagues safe, during these exceptional times.