Margate lifeboat and Coastguard helicopter carry out medevac off Thanet coast

UK Coastguard was contacted by a motor cruiser with three people on board around 11.30am today (Thursday 7 July) reporting that one of their crew, an adult male had been taken ill and required assistance. After consulting medical authorities ashore it was decided that the casualty should be evacuated to hospital as soon as possible. The craft was around a mile off Kingsgate Castle at the time.

Margate RNLI’s Atlantic 85, B class lifeboat was tasked to assist along with the Coastguard helicopter from Lydd Airport. The lifeboat and helicopter arrived at the vessel’s position around the same time and a casualty care-trained member of the lifeboat crew was transferred to the yacht to make an initial assessment of the situation. It was confirmed that the casualty should be evacuated and in a standard procedure he was safely transferred to the lifeboat where he could be transferred again to the helicopter while making way and away from the motor cruiser. The helicopter winchman was transferred to the lifeboat to make a further assessment of the casualty whereafter he was winched into the helicopter and transferred to William Harvey Hospital at Ashford.

After confirming the cruiser with the two remaining crew was returning to Ramsgate harbour safely the lifeboat returned to station.

Christian Wright, Deputy Launching Authority, Margate RNLI said: “This was a textbook rescue which reflects the hours of training the volunteer crew put in, including carrying out lifeboat to helicopter transfers while also demonstrating how the various rescue agencies involved can work together professionally when dealing with a time critical situation. Eighteen minutes after the lifeboat arrived on scene the casualty was in the coastguard helicopter on his way to hospital and medical attention.”

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

· Peter Barker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07974 064304 or [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 or [email protected]

· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789. UK Coastguard was contacted by a motor cruiser with three people on board around 11.30am today (Thursday 7 July) reporting that one of their crew, an adult male had been taken ill and required assistance. After consulting medical authorities ashore it was decided that the casualty should be evacuated to hospital as soon as possible. The craft was around a mile off Kingsgate Castle at the time.

Margate RNLI’s Atlantic 85, B class lifeboat was tasked to assist along with the Coastguard helicopter from Lydd Airport. The lifeboat and helicopter arrived at the vessel’s position around the same time and a casualty care-trained member of the lifeboat crew was transferred to the yacht to make an initial assessment of the situation. It was confirmed that the casualty should be evacuated and in a standard procedure he was safely transferred to the lifeboat where he could be transferred again to the helicopter while making way and away from the motor cruiser. The helicopter winchman was transferred to the lifeboat to make a further assessment of the casualty whereafter he was winched into the helicopter which then transferred him to William Harvey Hospital at Ashford.

After confirming the cruiser with the two remaining crew was returning to Ramsgate harbour safely the lifeboat returned to station.

Christian Wright, Deputy Launching Authority, Margate RNLI said: “ This was a textbook rescue which reflects the hours of training the volunteer crew put in, including carrying out lifeboat to helicopter transfers while also demonstrating how the various rescue agencies involved can work together professionally when dealing with a time critical situation. Eighteen minutes after the lifeboat arrived on scene the casualty was in the coastguard helicopter on his way to hospital and medical attention.”

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

· Peter Barker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07974 064304 or [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 or [email protected]

· RNLI Press Office 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 142,700 lives.

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