Fowey RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew rescue injured yachtsman
On Thursday June 2 at 11.09am Fowey lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat to assist an injured crew member on a yacht racing to Fowey from Mevagissey.
A pulley block had exploded on board the yacht, knocking the crew member over and causing injury to his leg. Two of the volunteer Fowey lifeboat crew members, Paul Gamble and Jan Philp, went on board the yacht to assess the casualty and due to the extent of the injury were unable to realign the broken bone. The lifeboat Cox, Jonathan Pritchard, decided that the safest course of action was to escort the vessel into Fowey and requested Lifeboat Operations Manager, Chris Ogg to arrange for ambulance and paramedics to be at the lifeboat pontoon. Cornwall air ambulance arrived as the lifeboat docked in Fowey with the casualty and the yacht. The air ambulance crew assessed the casualty and the life boat crew administered Entonox pain relief until the paramedics took over. When the ambulance arrived the casualty was stretchered off with the help of the coast guard team and taken to hospital in the ambulance.
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.