2 people have been evacuated by helicopter and lifeboat from the P&O cruise ship Britannia off the coast of the Isle of Wight tonight (Friday).
The cruise ship – which can accommodate nearly 5,000 people – left its homeport of Southampton bound for Kiel, Germany at 17:00 this evening. But within just 2 hours, as the vessel rounded the Nab Tower, the first emergency struck.
Solent Coastguard swiftly requested the launch of Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat at just before 19:00, with Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 also scrambled. It was a long trip from Lydd in Kent for Rescue 175 though, which is normally ready to respond from Lee-on-Solent.
It’s understood that whilst the medical evacuation – or medivac – of the patient with a dislocated hip was taking place, a second person on board the cruise presented as unwell – with a suspected stroke.
After a refuel back at base, the Coastguard helicopter successfully winched one of the seriously ill individuals onboard. They have since been flown directly to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth for potentially life-saving treatment.
The second patient has been transferred onboard Bembridge RNLI’s Tamar-class lifeboat and has been rushed ashore in Portsmouth.
Britannia has resumed on its journey to Germany.
Also tonight… the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has airlifted a seriously unwell patient from St Mary’s Hospital directly to Southampton General Hospital.
Earlier today Bembridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was in action just a few hundred meters off the station at Lane End.
It was at around 09:30 this morning that Solent Coastguard was made aware of a yacht aground on Bembridge Ledge.
Volunteer lifeboat crew were launched to check on the welfare of 7 people on board.
With all safe and well, the incident was stood down – with Bembridge RNLI keeping an eye on the situation at the next high tide.
If your daft enough to get stuck high and dry on the Bembridge ledge, you should not be in charge of a yacht with other peoples lives at risk. Does this so called skipper not have access to local charts and checked them before sailing? He/She should be made to walk the plank. They should be made to pay for the expense of the rescue service.