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Fraserburgh RNLI lifeboat tasked to Medivac from cruise ship after training

Lifeboats News Release

Fraserburgh RNLI lifeboat was tasked around 10.30pm on Thursday 11 May 2023 after a passenger aboard a passing cruise ship had became unwell and required medical assistance.

RNLI/Billy Watson

Fraserburgh Lifeboat arriving at berth with casualty aboard

Full-time Fraserburgh lifeboat Coxswain/Mechanic, Vic Sutherland, who organises the weekly training exercises, was just about to complete the third training exercise of the day with local RNLI volunteers when the Coastguard tasked Fraserburgh lifeboat after they had been alerted that a passenger aboard the cruise ship Aidabella required medical assistance.

After a training exercises in the afternoon at 2pm and two further exercises at 6.30pm and 8.30pm, Coxswain Sutherland effected a slight crew change before leaving Fraserburgh harbour at 10.30 pm aboard the Willie and May Gall with RNLI volunteers Chay Cumming, as mechanic, and Stephen Brown, Gubby Duncan, Scott Leye, Grant Morrison, Shane Richardson and Mark Ritchie as crew.

Twenty minutes later, Fraserburgh lifeboat met up with the 2,500 passenger cruise ship Aidabella which was en route from Invergordon to Denmark, having travelled from Iceland when she was about 11 miles off Kinnaird Head.

Coxswain Sutherland put volunteers Stephen Brown and Shane Richardson aboard the Aidabella to assist with the transfer of the casualty and his wife and was really pleased with how quickly and smoothly everything went.

'We had the advantage of being told exactly what we were going to as soon as we set off, so we were able to give some thought as to how we would approach things when we arrived on scene” he said, “the transfer went really very well, and the crew did fantastic work providing casualty care to the patient as we took him aboard the lifeboat and back to the station, where the Coastguards were able to provide extra assistance. From there the casualty was transferred to an ambulance and taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. We’re all hoping he’s okay and makes a speedy recovery.'

The captain of the Aidabella was also very impressed with the Fraserburgh Lifeboat and crew thanking them for providing such a “quick and professional” service.

Fraserburgh Lifeboat was refuelled and washed down ready for the next service and the crew debriefed at 2am.

Notes to editors

· Fraserburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1858. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fraserburgh-lifeboat-station


RNLI media contacts

Billy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Stuart Fenty, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

RNLI/Billy Watson

Full time Coxswain/Mechanic Vic Sutherland (centre) with volunteers Gubby Duncan and Scott Leye

RNLI/Billy Watson

Volunteers Mark Ritchie and Stephen Brown

RNLI/Billy Watson

Volunteer Mechanic Chay Cumming

RNLI/Billy Watson

Volunteer Grant Morrison

RNLI/Billy Watson

Volunteer Shane Richardson

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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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.

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