Barry Dock RNLI helps casualty with dislocated knee reach safety
Barry Dock RNLI’s inshore lifeboat (ILB) was diverted from an evening exercise on Thursday 1 May 2025, when tasked by HM Coastguard to assist a casualty at the Old Harbour breakwater who had reported a dislocated knee.
The lifeboat quickly made its way to the scene. On arrival, the crew found the casualty standing on the beach rocks, unable to bear weight on his left leg. Although not in visible distress, the individual had previously dislocated the same knee twice before and was in pain.
Barry Coastguard Rescue Team arrived shortly after and carried out an initial assessment. With the tide coming in and the rocky terrain making extraction by land unsafe, it was agreed that the best course of action was to transfer the casualty by lifeboat to Whitmore Bay, where the flat beach would allow for a safer handover to emergency services.
The crew assisted the casualty into a lifejacket and carefully boarded him onto the D class lifeboat. He was then transported to Whitmore Bay, where he was met by the Coastguard Rescue Team and a paramedic, and later reunited with his mum.
Barry Dock RNLI’s volunteer crew then returned to station and made the lifeboat ready for service once again.
Bill Kitchen, Barry Dock Lifeboat Operations Manager said:
‘This was a good example of working with our Coastguard colleagues to ensure the casualty was moved as safely and comfortably as possible. Thanks to the calm conditions and quick decision-making, we were able to get him to the care he needed without delay.’
It’s been a busy Bank Holiday weekend around our coast and Barry Dock RNLI is reminding people to take extra care around the coast, particularly near rocky areas and tidal cut-offs. You never know when a good day can take a turn for the worse, so always make sure you have a means of calling for help – such as a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch. If you or someone else gets into difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. The RNLI’s volunteer crews are ready to respond, whatever the conditions.
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Notes to Editors:
- The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the UK and Ireland.
- Barry Dock lifeboat stations operate in the Vale of Glamorgan, launching lifeboats in all weather conditions to respond to emergencies.
- The RNLI’s OneCrew ethos recognises that every volunteer, staff member, and supporter is part of the same team, working together to save lives at sea.
For further information, please contact:
Lisa Newberry, Lifeboat Press Officer, Barry Dock Lifeboat Station, 07977 922889. Alternatively, you can contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on [email protected] or 07977 728315, or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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