
Portrush RNLI carries out medical evacuation of casualty from vessel.
Portrush RNLI was requested to launch in the early hours of Saturday 20th November to reports of a casualty taken ill on 42-metre vessel 3 nautical miles North west off Portrush.
Portrush RNLI was requested to launch in the early hours of Saturday 20th November to reports of a casualty taken ill on 42-metre vessel 3 nautical miles North west off Portrush.
The All-weather Lifeboat and her volunteer crew were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard at 1.03 am to take carry out a medical evacuation of a casualty who had taken ill on a research vessel, moored 3 miles north west off the coast of Portrush
The ALB launched at 1.19 am. Conditions were good as skies were clear and visibility was good although the sea state was slightly choppy. The ALB arrived on scene at 1.25 am and two volunteer crew members were transferred on board the vessel to assess the condition of the casualty. The decision was then made to transfer the casualty onto the ALB in order to bring him to Portrush Harbour and to a waiting ambulance.
Beni McAllister Lifeboat Operations Manager said, -
‘This is a scenario that are crew are trained to undertake as a routine exercise but as always, doing it at night is slightly more complicated. The two crew members who went aboard the vessel have been trained in casualty care and knew exactly what had to be done. The other crew members then carried out the transfer in order to get the casualty and the crew members onto the ALB and the casualty handed over to the Coastguard and the Ambulance Service, waiting back at the Harbour.
We wish the casualty well and hope he makes a full recovery’
Ends
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