A Mayday relay was broadcast over the radio, with an immediate request to launch, as a person was heard crying for help in the vicinity of Lake yard in Poole Harbour.
Two members of the public who were walking their dog heard the cries for help and raised the alarm, the initial report was that there was a person in the water clinging onto a kayak.
The Lifeboat volunteers were immediately away and swiftly on scene, initially looking for a kayak, the members of the public who were close by behind a wave breaker fence near to the marina had switched their phone torches on to guide the lifeboat crew to the casualty, who they could see. It was dark in the harbour, cloudy, with cold drizzle, and a north westerly breeze 2 to 3.
The lifeboat crew found the casualty, who had been crying for help, clinging on to a breakwater, there was no sign of a kayak.
The lifeboat crew scooped the casualty onboard and began casualty care, warming him up, he was extremely cold.
The lifeboat urgently returned to station, requesting an ambulance to attend.
Poole Coastguard Rescue Team were also on scene and the Condor Liberation had also responded to the Mayday call.
On arrival at the station, other volunteers were on hand with blankets and the crew continued with casualty care, administering oxygen, and warming the casualty up.
The ambulance arrived on scene and the casualty was passed into the care of the paramedics. The crew with the help of Poole CRT transferred the casualty into the ambulance, where he was taken to hospital.
The lifeboat was made ready for service by 12.30am.
Volunteer Helm Alex Evans said:
‘The casualty was extremely lucky tonight, that the people passing heard his cries and alerted the coastguard, we are very grateful to them for standing by and guiding us in, the casualty was extremely cold, and they saved his life.'
This was the 38th launch this year.
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.