Swanage Lifeboat launches to assist in medical emergency

At 7:29 p.m. the pagers alerted the crew to muster ready to launch the all-weather lifeboat (ALB). A request had been received from Solent Coastguard to help a passenger with a medical emergency on the Levante Jet ferry. By 7:45 p.m. both the ALB and Rescue 375 (a HM Coastguard helicopter) were heading towards the vessel.

Rescue 375 lowered its winchman, a paramedic, onto the vessel for an initial assessment. Swanage Lifeboat stayed close to the ferry, ready to send crew aboard, or to affect an evacuation by sea. The decision was made to keep the casualty onboard the ferry, itself capable of in excess of 20 knots, and transfer them to an ambulance which would be waiting at the ferry terminal in Poole. The ALB continued to remain with the ferry in case it was tasked to help.

Just after 8:30 p.m. the ferry had docked and the casualty was transferred to the waiting ambulance. The lifeboat was released from service and was back at Swanage Station by 9:15 p.m.

ALB Crew: (Coxn) Gavin Steeden, Tom Greasty, Phil Palmer, Neil Brooks, Scott Turner, Adam O'Neill
Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Gary Buglass, (Winch) Neil Collings, Becky Mack, Archie Burgess, Jack Thompson

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Becky Mack, 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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