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Gravesend RNLI launch to injured skipper

Lifeboats News Release

On Sunday 18th May at 10:52am, HM Coastguard tasked Gravesend RNLI’s volunteer crew to a yacht near Dartford after a suspected crew member had broken their ribs from falling through a deck hatch.

Gravesend RNLI's lifeboat following white sailing yacht

RNLI/Gravesend

Gravesend RNLI's crew on board causality vessel
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Gravesend RNLI’s Thames Commander Dave Greenfield said, ‘We arrived on scene at 11:15am and could see a casualty laying on the foredeck, he was unable to move and clearly in pain but thankfully had been cared for by his crew who raised the alarm’.

The yacht had been sailing outbound on the Thames before planning to return to Greenwich.

Dave added, ‘Pain relief was provided along with monitoring of the casualty whilst we made plans to evacuate back at Greenwich, once we arrived we were able to do a full handover with the London Ambulance Service and their Hazardous Area Response Team, we then ensured the yacht was secure before standing down at 2:19pm’.

Gravesend RNLI’s crew returned to station whilst carrying out an exercise on route, refuelled and were ready for service by 4:05pm.

Notes to Editor

Gravesend is one of the RNLI’s newest lifeboat stations and one of four lifeboat stations operating on the River Thames – the first stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea.

Our lifeboat is Olive Laura Deare II, an Atlantic 85 B class inshore lifeboat, which is one of the fastest types in the fleet.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

· Ashley Bard, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected]

· Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager [email protected]

· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.


Gravesend RNLI's David Greenfield monitoring suspected broken ribs casualty

RNLI/Gravesend

Gravesend RNLI's David Greenfield monitoring suspected broken ribs casualty
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Key facts about the RNLI

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Ashley Bard
Lifeboat Press Officer, Gravesend

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