
Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI tasked whilst training
On the 1 April 2023 at 11.30am, Berwick-upon-Tweed all-weather lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard.
The lifeboat and crew were already out on a training exercise when the shout came through, so made haste back to shore, to the Berwick Dock, where the crew had been asked to pick up waiting North East Ambulance Service Paramedics.
The Paramedics had been called to attend to a male casualty, who had taken ill on Holy Island, as the tide was in, the only way to reach the casualty was by boat.
Sea conditions were rough especially coming out of the end of the Pier.
Holy Island Coastguard met the lifeboat at Holy Island Harbour where they then transported the Paramedics to the casualty.
The crew stood by at the harbour, until the paramedics had attended to the casualty. On this occasion however, the casualty after receiving treatment, did not need to be transported back to the mainland.
Once the Paramedics were back onboard the lifeboat, the crew then sailed back to Berwick lifeboat station, where the lifeboat was washed and got ready for service again at 3.15pm.
This was a great example of emergency services working together.
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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