
Happisburgh RNLI Volunteers called away from evening meal to help save a life
Pagers sounded at 6pm on 6 November 2024 to alert the volunteer lifeboat crew to a unwell person on the beach.
The station’s D Class lifeboat Russell Pickering with a crew of four was on the water at 6.10pm and made its way up the coast, past the village church to beach near the casualty and Bacton HM Coastguard unit who were already with the casualty.
With the sea being flat the crew were soon with the casualty, working with the Coastguards, checking him over, and administering oxygen. It was decided to remove the casualty by sea due to good weather conditions and no easy road access.
At 6.30pm Russell Pickering had returned to station with the casualty and was back in the boathouse where the crew carried on with casualty care until the ambulance service arrived at 7.30pm and then took over the care of the casualty before transferring him to hospital for ongoing treatment.
The crew and shore crew cleaned the boat, restocked the first aid kits and refuelled; it was put back on service at 9pm.
Helmsman Chris Risby said ‘I’m proud of my crew who were all exceptional during the whole shout, and very proud of their casualty care and compassion. putting their extensive training into action to save lives at sea. we are all on call 24/7’.
Notes to Editors
The Community Water Safety Team would like to remind people:
- Always take means of calling for help when near any water.
- If you see someone or something in trouble on or near the beach or any water, please call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
Happisburgh Currently Operates,
- D-Class, D - 813 “Russell Pickering”
- Community Water Safety Team
- Shop and Visit Centre
RNLI media contacts
Happisburgh Lifeboat Station Volunteer Press Officer PHILIP SMITH
Mobile 07766007936 E-mail [email protected]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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