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Stonehaven RNLI successfully rescues fallen walkers in joint rescue operation

Lifeboats News Release

Just before noon on Thursday 8 February, Stonehaven RNLI were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist with an incident just south of Stonehaven.

Picture of volunteer lifeboat crew and coastguard rescue teams providing assistance to injured walkers at the bottom of cliffs

RNLI/Anna Carlton

RNLI and coastguard rescue of fallen walkers February 2024

Stonehaven RNLI’s volunteer crew launched with their Atlantic 85, Jamie Hunter, to reports of two walkers who had fallen at the cliffs at Todhead, just south of Stonehaven.

On arrival on scene, the rock exposure at the base of the cliff made it unsafe to get the lifeboat in close enough for crew to simply step off. Two of the volunteer crew swam the short distance from the lifeboat to the shore with medical kit.

The casualties were assessed and provided with medical assistance. They were handed over to the Coastguard rescue teams and helicopter. One casualty was airlifted to a waiting ambulance at the cliff top for further assessment and treatment. The second was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for treatment.

Andy Martin, RNLI Atlantic 85 Helm at Stonehaven RNLI commented: ‘Today was a good outcome and is why our volunteers train week in, week out. It was a perfect example of different emergency and rescue services working together to provide assistance to the general public.’


Notes to editors

· Stonehaven RNLI was re-established in 2013 with the placing on service of a B-Class Atlantic 75. The current Inshore lifeboat is an Atlantic 85 B-Class the ‘Jamie Hunter’

· On 25th February Stonehaven RNLI commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the tragedy of the 1874 Stonehaven lifeboat disaster

· This year sees the 200th Anniversary of the establishment of the RNLI


RNLI media contacts

Anna Carlton, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07530 338562, [email protected]

Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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 over 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 142,200 lives.

Volunteers from RNLI and coastguard provide assistance to walkers that had fallen at cliffs south of Stonehaven

RNLI/Anna Carlton

RNLI and coastguard providing assistance to fallen walkers

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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