Kinsale RNLI volunteers assist sailor injured during Sovereign’s Cup race
Kinsale RNLI lifeboat Miss Sally Anne Baggy II – Never Fear, Baggy’s Here launched yesterday (Friday 25 June) to help an injured sailor on a racing yacht competing in the Sovereign’s Cup race.
The lifeboat launched just after 2pm following a report to the Coast Guard that a crew member had sustained a head injury after being struck by the boom. The yacht was met by the Kinsale lifeboat just off Charles Fort, where an RNLI volunteer boarded the vessel to carry out a medical assessment.
As the casualty was bleeding heavily from a head wound, lifeboat helm Jim Grennan decided the safest course of action was to transfer him to the lifeboat and bring him to Kinsale for immediate medical attention. The casualty was accompanied by the yacht skipper who was deeply concerned for his welfare. Emergency medical personnel had been alerted before the lifeboat launched and the RNLI crew handed the man into their care, where he received stitches to his head wound.
Lifeboat helm Jim Grennan said: ‘These accidents can happen to even the most experienced sailors and the crew on board the racing yacht remained calm and followed the correct procedures to the letter. They had dressed the casualty’s wound and the yacht skipper stayed with him throughout his ordeal until he received the all-clear from the medical team in Kinsale. We were happy to be able to bring him back safely and commend the yacht crew for their swift reactions.’
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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