Plymouth RNLI’s relief All-Weather Lifeboat ‘Volunteer Spirit’ and her volunteer crew were requested to launch by Falmouth Coastguard to assist with a medical evacuation from an ocean liner 1.5nm south of Plymouth Breakwater.
As the pagers sounded to assemble the crew early on Monday 23 September at 5.39am our volunteer crew made their way down to the station and awaited further information before proceeding to kit up ready for launch.
The All-Weather Severn Class lifeboat, launched from Millbay Marina at 6.15am and made best speed towards the ocean liner already diverting to Plymouth from the English Channel finally rendezvousing just before 6.25am.
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Once on scene the casualty was assessed by our casualty care crew and in consultation with the ocean liners’ medical team the decision was made to evacuate the casualty to the lifeboat via the pilot ladder to be taken back to Plymouth Lifeboat Station into the care of South Western Ambulance Service for onward treatment in hospital.
Deputy Second Coxswain Neil Humphrey said:
‘It’s not often we are tasked to a 323m ocean liner to assist with a casualty evacuation but today our volunteer crew conducted the extraction perfectly. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery.’
If you see someone else in trouble at the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
You can also call for help using a VHF radio on channel 16. This communicates the distress message to all vessels and shore stations in range.
