Bembridge RNLI responded to reports of a man with a head injury on a cargo ship over 5-and-a-half nautical miles off the coast of the Isle of Wight yesterday evening (Tuesday).
In difficult conditions, the All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) was tasked for the 19th time this year whilst on the water, having already launched at 19:00 as part of it’s Tuesday evening training programme.
At just before 19:30, the training exercise turned into a real shout when Solent Coastguard requested the lifeboat divert to the Antigua Barbuda-flagged cargo ship BBC Iceland. It had left the Polish port of Gdynia and was travelling towards the Spanish port of Aviles.
The ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ reached the BBC Iceland at around 19:55 having battled rain and F7 winds with a 2m swell.
The casualty was safely transferred from the cargo ship by means of making his own way down the boarding ladder wearing a harness.
Coxswain Guy Willing powered the lifeboat to The Camber in Portsmouth, coming alongside at 20:35.
Having transferred the casualty to an awaiting Ambulance, Bembridge ALB returned safely to the Offshore Boathouse and was rehoused by 21:30.
Last night’s tasking forms part of a busy period for Bembridge RNLI who have attended multiple incidents in recent days, as reported by Island Echo. It’s the 19th time that volunteers have responded to an emergency year. This puts 2023 on course to be it’s busiest ever year, following 2022’s record 60 launches.
Our fantastic RNLI heroes!
And best wishes to the casualty, I hope they are better soon, and get home safely.
Just waiting for someone to make a stupid comment about that, instead of expressing gratitude and admiration for the unpaid effort of the crew and shore support staff.
God bless those who put themselves forward to ensure that those in peril on the sea have faith that the aforementioned will do everything to help save them in their time of need on the seas.
Men are men, but these RNLI volunteers are real public spirited men. Proper heroes gutsy, courageous and brave.
Jimmy, some of the RNLI and other services are women 🙂
Well said Janet.
In horrible conditions these guys turn out and do themselves proud, good effort.
Well done to all men and women, you are the best RNLI.