
Abersoch RNLI tasked to assist rowing boat off St Tudwal’s Islands.
HM Coastguard requested the launch at 10.09am Wednesday 7 June 2023 following an emergency call made by the casualty.
The volunteer crew launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat at 10.18am and arrived at the scene at 10.29am.
The vessel was situated two miles south of St Tudwal’s islands. The casualty was heading for Ireland in an ocean going, suitably equipped, rowing vessel. After three days at sea due to the adverse weather conditions created by the easterly wind direction, he succumbed to acute seasickness. He had been at anchor for over 24 hours and realising he was too ill to make way any further, he made the emergency call to the Coastguard via his VHF radio.
The volunteer crew assessed his condition and felt that further medical assistance was necessary. The casualty was transferred to the lifeboat where he was treated for dehydration and exhaustion. An ambulance was requested to meet the lifeboat at Abersoch lifeboat station. After a short transfer back to the lifeboat station the casualty was handed over to the care of the waiting paramedics.
The lifeboat was relaunched with two replacement volunteer crew members and returned to the casualty vessel. After establishing a safe tow the vessel was towed back to a safe mooring within Abersoch harbour.
The lifeboat returned to the station at 12.40pm where it was washed down refuelled and left ready for service.
Abersoch RNLI volunteer helm, Phill Wood, said ‘We were able to locate the casualty vessel very quickly due to him providing a good position over the VHF radio and also having a working AIS (automatic identification system)’.
If you get into difficulty, or spot someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
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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 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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