Major rescue launched after chest injury leaves fisherman …

A fisherman was flown to hospital after a chest injury left him unresponsive off the North Wales coast. A major emergency response was launched to help the injured man, who was on a local charter boat, at around 3pm on Monday.

The emergency unfolded around eight miles off the coast of Ynys Mon (Anglesey[1]). Volunteers from RNLI Moelfre were sent to assist the man, who suffered his injury after a fall.

RNLI Moelfre said: "The injured person was reported to be worsening and unable to move off the deck, being in excruciating pain and struggling to breathe. The crew were underway within 15 minutes, and prepared the lifeboat for casualty care, and stretcher recovery.

"The skipper of the vessel was asked to make best speed towards the lifeboat station, during which time the person had become unresponsive with laboured breathing. Just 10 minutes after launching the lifeboat was skilfully manoeuvred alongside the vessel in uncomfortable conditions and transferred two crew members aboard to carry out a first aid assessment."

They continued: "Due to the person's deteriorating condition, Holyhead[3] Coastguard then tasked rescue helicopter 936 from Caernarfon[4], however once on scene and due to the close proximity to the lifeboat station the helicopter requested that rather [than] carry out a tricky winching procedure, the safest option was for the casualty was for them be landed back at the lifeboat station where they could be quickly assessed by the paramedics and winchman on scene.

"The ALB crew administered oxygen and made the casualty comfortable and stable ready for transfer to the all-weather lifeboat prior to recovery. Once the casualty and crew were back onboard, the lifeboat quickly recovered back to the station, with the help of our shore crew and the casualty was handed over to the awaiting helicopter and ambulance crew paramedics.

"Our local coastguard team from Moelfre were also on scene to assist in crowd control and stretcher carrying once back at station."

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Duty 2nd Coxswain Martin Jones was full of praise for his fellow crew members, saying they did a fantastic job of stabilising the fisherman, as well as showing superb teamwork throughout. Mr Jones said: “The charter vessel skipper did the right thing in calling for assistance at the earliest opportunity.

"The helicopter pilots call to transfer the man by lifeboat to the station, was the best and safest option for all and would not risk aggravating the man’s condition further. Our crew did a fantastic job in stabilising the casualty, and making them as comfortable as possible until handover.

"This was another great example of teamwork with multi-agency operations, my thanks go out to the crew and all other agencies involved. All from the station wish the person involved a speedy recovery."

References

  1. ^ Anglesey (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  2. ^ Former Debenhams store could be transformed in £20m project in Bangor (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  3. ^ Holyhead (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  4. ^ Caernarfon (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  5. ^ comments section (www.dailypost.co.uk)

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