Sick seafarer assisted by Margate lifeboat
Margate’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat has assisted a seafarer after he was taken ill on board a ship in the Margate Roads anchorage.
The Liberian-flagged, Dutch-owned LPG tanker contacted UK Coastguard around 2.30pm today (Friday 9 October) asking for medical advice after a member of its crew had been taken ill, the vessel was anchored in the Margate Roads around two miles offshore at the time. A radio link call was established between the vessel and medical authorities ashore and it was recommended the crew member be landed ashore for medical attention.
Margate’s all-weather lifeboat was tasked to evacuate the casualty with Margate’s coastguard rescue team also tasked to assist in shoreside coordination. The casualty was taken on board the lifeboat and transferred back to Margate where he was handed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service.
Peter Barker, Deputy Launching Authority, Margate RNLI said: ‘The Margate Roads is a popular anchorage where ships can be waiting for orders or for a vacant berth for sometimes weeks on end and occasionally their crew need medical attention for illness or injury. Medical evacuation of such casualties is a service we are asked to provide from time to time and our casualty care-trained crew can look after their welfare until handed over to medical agencies ashore.’
ENDS
RNLI Media contacts
· Peter Barker, RNLI Margate Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer 07974 064304 [email protected]
· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (SouthEast), 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 [email protected]
· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.