Leverburgh Lifeboat tasked to assist with St Kilda cliff rescue
Leverburgh RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged at 1615 hours yesterday afternoon, to bring members of several Lewis & Harris Coastguard land units to St Kilda, as part of a cliff rescue operation.
The 'Stella and Humfrey Berkeley' and her volunteer crew made the 50 mile journey to the remote archipelago, where an 87 year old male had fallen a considerable distance, down a steep rock face.
On arrival at St Kilda, Stornoway Coastguard helicopter were already on scene with a cliff rescue team, who had begun the task of recovering the casualty. After the casualty had been successfully brought to safety, he was flown to hospital. Leverburgh's volunteer lifeboat crew took the coastguard teams involved in the rescue back to Harris.
The lifeboat was back at the station, re-fuelled and ready for service again by 2300 hours.
This is the furthest distance Leverburgh RNLI’s new Shannon Class lifeboat has travelled for a shout.
All at Leverburgh RNLI would like to wish the casualty well as he recovers from his ordeal.
RNLI media contacts
Catriona MacLennan, Leverburgh Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected] 07827 994354
Gemma McDonald, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Henry Weaver, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 01738 642986, 07771 943026, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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