Flamborough RNLI launched to swimmers in difficulty at Thornwick bay
Flamborough RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew rescued four people who had got into difficulty whilst swimming at Thornwick bay.
Flamborough RNLI lifeboat B-820 Elizabeth Jane Palmer was launched on service on 17 August at 12:09pm at the request of UK Coastguard following reports of Five people in the water, shouting for help at Thornwick bay.
Lifeboat with volunteer crew arrived on scene at 12:19 to find that one person had managed to swim to the safety of the beach. One person was lifted into the boat from the water whilst three others were at the cliff face in the entrance to Smugglers cave.
The crew veered the lifeboat down into the entrance to Smugglers cave and safely took the three people on board, two of whom had suffered injuries.
Once the casualties were on board the crew discarded the anchor in order to make a swift and safe withdrawal from the cliffs. Volunteer crew undertook casualty care assessments and an ambulance was requested as one of the casualties required urgent medical attention.
On arrival back at South Landing one casualty was handed over to the awaiting ambulance crew. The other casualties were taken into the lifeboat station where they were made comfortable and assessed by a paramedic before being discharged.
Crew member Tom Moate said: 'It was a challenging service, made more difficult due to the sea conditions and the position of the casualties. There was good teamwork and communication between lifeboat crew and the local Coastguard rescue team.'
Flamborough RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, David Freeman said: 'It was a well executed service. We would always advise people to check the weather and sea conditions before entering the water.'
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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