Sennen Cove RNLI volunteers launch to assist sick fisherman
The Sennen Cove all-weather lifeboat City of London III launched on Saturday 4 September to assist an eleven metre fishing vessel with three people on board, three miles north-east of Wolf Rock Lighthouse. One of the crew had been taken ill.
HM Coastguard Falmouth received a Pan Pan call for assistance from the small fishing vessel and activated the RNLI volunteer crew’s pagers at 9.15 am. The lifeboat quickly launched with seven crew, under the command of Second Coxswain Dan Shannon. Falmouth Coastguard also tasked the Coastguard helicopter to assist .
The Lifeboat arrived with the casualty vessel at 9.40am and transferred two volunteer crew to the fishing vessel to provide casualty care to the sick gentleman. The Coastguard helicopter arrived on scene at 9.56am.
Due to the size, layout and movement of the small fishing vessel in the choppy seas the coastguard helicopter lowered their paramedic to the lifeboat which then transferred her to the fishing vessel to give further assessment to the sick fisherman.
Once aboard the fishing boat the two RNLI volunteers and the paramedic decided that the casualty needed to be taken to Treliske hospital to be checked over.
As the swell was making a transfer awkward, both vessels moved to more sheltered waters off Pendower Cove where the casualty, paramedic and RNLI volunteers were safely transferred back aboard the Tamar class lifeboat at 10.45am. The casualty and paramedic were then winched to the helicopter and the gentleman was swiftly taken to Treliske hospital in Truro.
After making sure all was well with the remaining crew of the fishing vessel, the City of London III departed the scene at 10.55 to return to Sennen Cove.
The lifeboat was back in Sennen Cove around 11.15am where she was recovered up the long slipway, washed down, refuelled and made ready for her next service.
Ends.
Notes to editors
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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 over 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 142,200 lives.
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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