Gravesend RNLI evacuates injured casualty in multi-agency response
Gravesend RNLI launched late on Friday night to assist South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) with the evacuation of an injured cyclist who had suffered a fractured leg near Joyce Green Beach, Dartford.
HM Coastguard requested the launch of the RNLI lifeboat at 11.25pm on Friday 19 June after ambulance crews reached the casualty, who was receiving pain relief, but faced difficulties evacuating her due to the remote location.
RNLI Thames Commander Stewart Challis said, 'Due to the remote location with no easy road access, ambulance crews had to walk more than a mile in darkness over unstable ground. Requesting the launch of the lifeboat to assist with the evacuation was absolutely the right decision.'
While making their way to the scene, the crew were diverted by HM Coastguard at 11.32pm to assist Metropolitan Police with the search for a venerable person near Erith. Shortly afterwards, the lifeboat was stood down from the search and resumed its original tasking, arriving at Joyce Green Beach shortly after midnight.
Stewart added, 'Once we arrived on scene, one of our volunteers, Ashley Bard, left the lifeboat and made his way up the foreshore to meet SECAmb crews and devise a plan for the casualty's evacuation.'
RNLI volunteer Ashley Bard said, 'The casualty was being treated by paramedics when I arrived. The plan was to prepare her on the stretcher and await the arrival of the Ambulance Service's Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). Once they were on scene, we were able to carry her safely down to the lifeboat whilst maintaining her medical care.'
With the casualty secured on the stretcher and safely on board, the crew made the short two-nautical-mile passage to Greenhithe Causeway, where she was transferred ashore.
Stewart said, 'Once alongside, we secured the lifeboat and, with assistance from the HART team, carried the casualty to the top of the causeway before handing her over to the ambulance for onward transport to hospital.'
Gravesend RNLI was stood down at 1.58am. The volunteer crew then returned to station to refuel and wash down the lifeboat before it was made ready for service again at 2.25am.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Ashley Bard, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]
Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [email protected]
Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
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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.
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