Fowey lifeboat crew assist injured gig rower
On Tuesday 18 March Fowey volunteer lifeboat crew were carrying out their regular Tuesday evening training exercises onboard the all-weather Lifeboat.
At 8pm, a gig that was training in the harbour came alongside Berrills Yard pontoon requesting assistance. They had collided with a large yellow steel mooring buoy in the dark and one of their crew, seated in the bow seat, had fallen backwards on impact and injured his lower back after connecting with a bucket containing rowing pins.
The casualty was in considerable pain. A number of Fowey’s casualty care/first aid trained RNLI volunteers assisted with the incident, providing warm dry robes and pain relief. The casualty was eventually able to walk to the station where he was kept warm and comfortable whilst the shock wore off. After half an hour or so, the casualty was assisted to a vehicle and one of his fellow gig rowers drove him home.
The incident was reported to Falmouth Coastguard and no other agencies were involved.
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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