Busy day for Tobermory RNLI’s volunteer crew

Tobermory RNLI lifeboat was tasked by the UK Coastguard to go to the aid of a visitor who had fallen on the island of Staffa off the west coast of Mull, famous for its basalt columns and Fingal’s cave and a popular tourist destination. The lifeboat crew launched within seven minutes of being paged just before 1600 and made best speed to Staffa. On arrival two crew members were landed by a local tour boat and provided casualty care to the woman who was being helped by the tour boat's crew. The woman, who had injured her leg, was then transferred to the lifeboat and taken to Tobermory where she was passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Earlier in the day, Tobermory’s volunteer crew had exercised in the Sound of Mull with Leverburgh’s brand new lifeboat, a state of the art Shannon class all weather lifeboat. In command of both lifeboats were two brothers, Tobermory’s Coxswain David McHaffie and his older brother, Andrew who is the former station Coxswain and is now a Fleet Staff Coxswain who is responsible for helping to roll out the new Shannon lifeboats and train their crews around the UK and Ireland.

Tobermory RNLI Coxswain David McHaffie said: ‘This has been a busy day for the volunteer crew and we hope that the lady injured on Staffa makes a full recovery. It was also a pleasure to work with our friends from Harris and we wish them a safe onward passage and fair winds and following seas for their lifeboat as she goes on service in the next few weeks.’

Notes to editors

Video of both the 'shout' and exercise will be available in the next few days.

For further information, please contact Dr Sam Jones, Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager on 07747601900.

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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