UPDATED: Bembridge RNLI have evacuated an unwell passenger from a cruise ship in the Solent this evening (Saturday).
The All Weather Lifeboat was tasked to launch from Bembridge at just gone 18:00 when it was reported to Solent Coastguard that someone had been taken ill on board ‘Balmoral’ – a 217m cruise ship owned by Fred Olsen.
Volunteer crew members on board ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ – a Tamar-class lifeboat – made best speed up the Solent to rendezvous with the cruise liner, which earlier departed Southampton en-route to Portugal.
In fairly calm conditions, the casualty was transferred to the lifeboat.
Island Echo understands the individual – thought to be a woman with a dislocated shoulder – has now been taken to Portsmouth for onward conveyance to hospital.
Tonight’s shout is the first of 2019 for Bembridge RNLI.
UPDATE – It has been confirmed that the casualty was transferred on a stretcher to the lifeboat via Balmoral’s starboard pilot hatch.
She and her husband were then taken into Portsmouth Camber and transferred to an ambulance.
