Barrow lifeboat called to assist casualty on board former RNLI lifeboat

The tasking request was received from HM Coastguard in Holyhead at 10.00am. The information received was that the injured person on board the 13-metre (45-foot) vessel had become unwell and had then suffered a fall resulting in a head injury.

The crew was paged and the all-weather lifeboat, Grace Dixon, was launched at 10.22am under the command of Coxswain, Shaun Charnley, along with a crew of six.

The Barrow lifeboat headed south and reached the scene after a 20-minute passage. The sea conditions were poor, but the two vessels were able to achieve a position to enable a crewman to transfer from the Barrow lifeboat to the former lifeboat so that the casualty could be assessed. The sea conditions were such that it wasn’t possible to transfer the casualty safely to the Grace Dixon until the vessels had reached the more sheltered water in Walney Channel. Once the transfer was completed the Barrow lifeboat proceeded to the Port of Barrow’s Belfast Berth where the casualty was then taken to hospital by the North West Ambulance Service supported by the team from Furness Coastguard.

Mark Raynes, owner and skipper of the 102-year-old Watson Class former Manchester and Salford sailing lifeboat, recounted what took place: “We were heading to the Royal Port of Barrow for the Festival of the Sea with the aim of opening the boat to the public and raising some funds for Barrow Lifeboat.

As a team of professionals, we never expected to need the services of the RNLI, but a crew member became sick due to the sea state and then fell and sustained a head injury. The injured person was unresponsive and after speaking to a doctor via the Coastguard, the Barrow Lifeboat was called out so that the casualty could be taken to hospital as soon as possible. The crew member who transferred to our vessel from the lifeboat was a real hero as the casualty required first aid and medical help. We would like to express our thanks to the Barrow lifeboat crew and I am pleased to say that the casualty is now fine and back on board with us.”

Visibility at the time of the incident was good and the wind was westerly, Force 4. The next high tide was due at 6.39pm with a predicted height of 7.4m.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Chris Clouter, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Barrow, [email protected]

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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