Following a busy week for the Island’s lifeboat crews, Bembridge RNLI added to the tally with a total of three shouts yesterday afternoon (Sunday).
The first shout was at around 13:40 when the Alfred Albert Williams all weather lifeboat launched to take over the tow of a broken down motorboat from the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat. A 38ft cruiser, MV ‘Splash’ with 2 persons onboard, broke down off St Catherine’s Point earlier in the day. The motor cruiser was subsequently towed into Portsmouth.
On returning to Bembridge, the ALB carried out a hi-line training exercise with the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and was re-housed by 16:00.
The second came in just an hour later at 17:10 to medivac a male who had been injured whilst being towed behind an inflatable in the Priory Bay area. The inflatable, with the casualty still onboard, was towed to Bembridge Harbour where he was transferred to a waiting ambulance suffering from two dislocated shoulders.
On returning to the Lifeboat Station for the second time of the day, the ALB and volunteer crew were diverted at around 18:30 to assist Selsey RNLI in the search for two overdue divers, however the divers were located before Bembridge RNLI reached the dive area.
The all weather lifeboat returned to Bembridge and was re-housed by 19:15.
