Exmouth RNLI rescues injured crewman

At 10.38am today, Monday 29^th May 2023, H.M. Coastguard tasked the volunteer crew of Exmouth RNLI all weather lifeboat 13-03 R & J Welburn to a report of a male with head and shoulder injuries following a fall on board a 32 foot yacht about 4 kilometres east of Holcombe. The launch was authorised by Deputy Launch Authority, Neil Hurlock. Sea conditions were fair, weather and visibility good.

The lifeboat, crewed by the charity’s volunteers Steve Hockings-Thompson, Scott Ranft, Guy Munnings, Harry Griffin, Robert Thompson and Lifeboat Medical Advisor, Dr Peter Aitken, immediately sped to the reported location where they made contact with the vessel at 11.07am. Two lifeboat crew boarded the yacht and administered first aid to the casualty.

At 11.16am the Exmouth RNLI crew requested the assistance of Teignmouth RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboat B-809 The Two Annes to convey the casualty to shore. The casualty was successfully transferred to the Teignmouth lifeboat at 11.47am and taken to a waiting ambulance at Teignmouth.

The yacht was taken under tow by Exmouth lifeboat to the safety of Torquay harbour following which the lifeboat returned to Exmouth Lifeboat Station at 2.15pm and back on service a short time later.

Other Exmouth RNLI volunteers involved were Tractor Driver, Henry Mock, Head Launcher, John Dinsdale with shore crew Henry Thomas, Paul Dean, Jason Luff, Paul Viner, Dougie Wright, Geoff Mills, Ed Thomas, Roger Jackson and Jake Butt.

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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