Plymouth RNLI launched to assist casualty after falling from coast path

At 9:32am on Monday 30th June, Plymouth RNLI volunteer crew were paged by Falmouth Coastguard to assist in a multi-agency rescue. The casualty had fallen from the coast path 60 feet above the shoreline the night before. A kayaker discovered the injured man and raised the alarm.

Both Plymouth’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annabel E Jones and Severn Class all-weather lifeboat Sybil Mullen Glover arrived promptly on scene in the Fort Picklecombe area of Cawsand Bay. After liaising with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Tamar, Looe and Plymouth, along with Devon and Cornwall Police, it was clear that all extraction options would be challenging due to the casualty’s location.

Four casualty care-trained crew members went ashore to assess the casualty’s condition. They administered pain relief and began immobilising the casualty onto a basket stretcher, ready for transfer by sea to the waiting all-weather lifeboat.

Two members of the Coastguard Rescue Team were also picked up from Cawsand Beach by the inshore lifeboat and taken to the isolated location to assist with the extraction.

The casualty was safely transferred to the all-weather lifeboat, where his condition was monitored by the RNLI crew during the short passage back to Millbay Marina, into the care of South Western Ambulance Service for onward medical treatment.

Wesley Foster, ILB Helm said: “This was a challenging rescue in a tough spot to reach, but thanks to great teamwork from all emergency services, we were able to get the casualty safely aboard and into the care he needed. Huge thanks to the kayaker who spotted him and raised the alarm. It really does show how important it is to look out for one another. It’s also a good reminder that when you’re heading out near the coast or on the water, always carry a means of calling for help.”

Notes to editors

Photos

• Plymouth RNLI volunteers providing casualty care to injured man after falling from coastal path.
  Photo Credit RNLI / Wesley Foster
  
  

Information

Plymouth is busy station based in the Old Custom House at Millbay Marina Village, Plymouth Lifeboat Station has two lifeboats, an all-weather Severn Class lifeboat Sybil Mullen Glover and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annabel E Jones.

To find out more about Plymouth lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/plymouth-lifeboat-station

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RNLI media contacts

• Darren Blight, Lifeboat Press Officer, Plymouth Lifeboat Station on 07984 399860 or [email protected]
  
• Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]
  
• Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]
• RNLI Duty Press Office on 01202 336789 or [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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