Bembridge RNLI’s All-Weather Lifeboat was launched yesterday evening (Friday) to medivac a 70 year old lady from the Cruise Ship ‘Anthem of the Seas’.
RNLB Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) was launched for the 2nd time that evening at around 20:20 at the request of UK (Solent) Coastguard to medivac a 70 year old lady from the Cruise Ship that had left Southampton earlier and was 8 miles south of Bembridge.
Give the benign conditions and with the Anthem of the Seas heading back to the Solent, it did not take them long to link up and transfer the casualty in a stretcher to the lifeboat. The Alfred Albert Williams then headed back to the Offshore Boathouse as it was understood that an ambulance would be available to take the casualty to St Mary’s Hospital, Newport.
However just before recovering, they were advised that there would be a considerable delay in the arrival of the ambulance, so it was decided to take the casualty to Portsmouth instead.
After a very short delay at the Camber waiting for an ambulance, the Alfred Albert Williams then returned to Bembridge and was recovered by 22:50.
Typical island delays. Maybe they were having trouble with the ambulances steam engine.
Hope the lady is doing ok?? x well done to everyone involved in making sure she’s ok X