Casualty evacuation tasking for Bridlington RNLI 13 miles off Flamborough Head

The volunteer crew of the Bridlington RNLI lifeboat station were tasked at 9.20pm, Tuesday (4 June), after the HM Coastguard reported that a person had been injured on a survey vessel 13 miles east of Flamborough Head. With a volunteer crew of six, the Bridlington all-weather lifeboat (ALB) ‘Antony Patrick Jones’ launched from the beach, entering the water at 9.44pm, making good speed towards the 74-meter survey vessel in calm seas with good visibility in a light south westerly breeze.

The volunteer crew of the ALB rendezvoused with the vessel at 10.06pm and safely transferred the casualty onboard the ALB, who had a fish hook embedded in their hand which required medical attention on shore. After carefully extracting the casualty from the moving vessel, they were assessed and found to be fully alert, fully mobile and in good spirits, despite the nasty injury.

With the casualty safely onboard ALB, the volunteer crew of the ‘Antony Patrick Jones’ turned for home and headed to Bridlington Harbour, reaching Crane Wharf at 10.41pm, where the casualty was handed over to the awaiting HM Coastguards before being transferred to Scarborough Hospital for treatment. The volunteer crew were then stood down and the ALB and volunteer crew returned to the beach, was recovered, washed down and back on service by 11.30pm.

Jason Webber, RNLI volunteer Coxswain on the Bridlington ALB stated, ‘Just as most of the crew were getting ready for bed the station received a tasking request for Bridlington’s all-weather lifeboat (ALB) to evacuate a crew member off a merchant vessel 13 miles east of Flamborough Head. Once on scene I assessed the situation and realised, due to the size of the vessel, the quickest and safest way to cross deck the casualty was to conduct a slow speed transfer, this involves bringing the lifeboat alongside the Merchant vessel while it is making way.

This was made much easier for myself as Coxswain by having such a well-trained and professional volunteer crew onboard. Once the casualty was onboard, we made best speed back to Bridlington Harbour to hand them over to a waiting HM Coastguard team to arrange transfer to hospital'.

The casualty, Charlotte added, ‘It’s not every day, thankfully, that you get brought to shore on a RNLI lifeboat but I am so grateful to the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew who got me to shore quickly and comfortably late Wednesday evening.

From the point of leaving the ship to getting to hospital my journey was easy and smooth, with some great company and chocolate to keep my spirits up and take my mind off the hook in my hand. I felt well looked after and supported throughout the whole journey. Thanks for everything.’

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For more information, please contact Mike Milner, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected] or call:07751-054052.

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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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