Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat called to medically evacuate a seaman in rough seas
The lifeboat and a helicopter were sent to help a crew member of a guard vessel who needed urgent medical assistance.
Lowestoft RNLI lifeboat Coxswain John Fox said “we were tasked by HM Coastguard at 9.18pm on 10 September 2025 to medivac (medically evacuate) a casualty from a vessel East of Aldeburgh.
“Sea conditions were moderate to rough with a good breeze blowing and it was raining hard giving poor visibility. When we reached the vessel, which was a guardship, it was by then off Orford and an HM Coastguard helicopter had also arrived.”
“We went right in close alongside the vessel, which was rolling in the sea swell to try to take the person off and found that the casualty was laying on the deck and couldn’t climb onto the lifeboat.”
“An attempt to winch a paramedic from the helicopter onto the lifeboat also had to be aborted as weather and sea conditions were too bad.”
“With the helicopter needing to go to Southend to refuel it was agreed to escort the guardship with casualty still on board back to Lowestoft. “
“However, when the helicopter returned the squally weather had passed through and it was a bit calmer, so another attempt was made to lower a paramedic from the helicopter onto the guard vessel which was successful - and the casualty was airlifted to Ipswich Hospital.
The lifeboat returned to its moorings at 2.20am
It was the second call to the guard ship in a week for the volunteer lifeboat crew as they were summoned to help when the same ship lost propulsion off Lowestoft, and they towed it to safety.
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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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