Hartlepool RNLI assist ill fisherman
Hartlepool RNLI volunteers were paged at 5.03am on Thursday 3rd February to a 45ft fishing vessel 30 miles off Hartlepool with a crew member who had a medical issue.
The all weather lifeboat launched at 5.25am and was on scene at 6.20am where a Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Humberside had arrived earlier to deal with the casualty.
Deputy launch author Steve Pounder said ‘Once again a prompt turn out from the volunteer crew meant we were heading out to sea quickly in response to the request from the Coastguard.
With the helicopter reaching the fishing vessel before us and their paramedic dealing with the casualty the all weather lifeboat stood by ready to offer any assistance'.
Once the casualty was assessed it was decided he could stay on the fishing boat and return to Hartlepool.'
The fishing boat was then escorted back to Hartlepool by the lifeboat arriving at the Fish Quay at 9.50am where the all weather lifeboat returned to the Ferry Road boathouse and was refuelled and made ready for service by 10.20am.
Weather conditions were described as slight with a westerly 10-15 knot wind.
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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