Donate now
RNLI Moelfre Lifeboat launched to aid mariner with life threatening injuries.
Moelfre all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was tasked at 10:45 this morning at the request of Holyhead Coastguard to assist a medical emergency onboard a Merchant vessel at anchor approximately 6 nautical miles North of Moelfre.
The RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were assembled, launched the lifeboat, and was en route within 15 minutes of receiving the tasking, along with additional Air support from our local Search and Rescue helicopter from Caernarfon.
Once alongside the merchant vessel, the lifeboat was skilfully manoeuvred to its pilot ladder midships and immediately transferred 2 casualty-care-trained crew. After the perilous climb and a safe landing, they were escorted to the injured person. They carried out a full medical assessment of the casualty, who was positioned on the second deck, lying under the machinery where the injury occurred.
The crewman in his 30s had had his leg crushed in machinery during lifeboat derrick operations and had suffered a significant double break and deep lacerations to his lower leg. The ship's crew had already stabilised the injury and stemmed the blood loss while waiting for assistance to arrive, so Deputy Coxswain Martin Jones and crew member Ellie Jones carried out a full medical assessment and began treatment.
The Paramedic winch operator from Rescue Helicopter 336 was soon winched onto the deck and, along with our crew's initial assessment, administered appropriate pain relief to the injured person..
Our volunteers worked alongside the Helicopter paramedic, and within a short period of time, the person was stable and ready for evacuation after a difficult stretcher carry onto the ship's hatches and helicopter winching zone. The casualty was safely winched into the Helicopter and flown to Liverpool for specialist surgical treatment.
Moelfre lifeboat Coxswain Vince Jones said:
“This was a fantastic multi-agency operation to safely treat, stabilise and evacuate a man in urgent need of specialist medical attention. Our crew bravely scaled the ship's 10-meter pilot ladder with equipment and all to reach the casualty in less than 30 minutes after we received the call. Time was critical, and without the combined efforts of the ship's crew, our volunteer lifeboat crew and rescue helicopter team, the outcome could have been very different. We wish the crewman a speedy recovery and thank all those involved in a successful outcome”
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Phil Williams, Volunterer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Wales & West, [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]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok 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.