Lyme Regis RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew launch to woman with broken ankle
The volunteer crew of Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat responded to their first service call of 2024 to go to the aid of a female casualty on the beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
Shortly after having washed down and rehoused their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne after a routine training exercise, the volunteer crew received a request from HM Coastguard to launch again, this time on service. Their task was to locate a woman reported to have sustained a broken ankle whilst walking on the on the beach under Black Ven between Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
The crew launched at 1:43pm and arrived on scene 10 minutes later. They located the casualty but due to poor weather conditions, with a strong south westerly wind and heavy surf, they were unable to approach the beach or put any crew ashore. HM Coastguard rescue teams from Lyme Regis and West Bay were also tasked to the incident and were able reach the casualty by walking along the beach from Charmouth. Because of the casualty’s injury, and the prevailing weather conditions, it was decided that safest means of rescue would be by Coastguard helicopter.
Volunteer helm Jon Broome said, ‘We quickly located the casualty who was part of a group of people walking on the beach. Due to very poor weather conditions on the shoreline, it was impossible to rescue her by sea, so we stood by offshore until the Coastguard helicopter had transferred the group to safety at Charmouth.’
Spirit of Loch Fyne was released from service at 4:07 pm and returned to Lyme Regis 15 minutes later. This was the first service call for the volunteer crew of Lyme Regis RNLI in 2024, the year in which the Charity celebrates its 200th anniversary.
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Contact: Nick Marks Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer RNLI Lyme Regis. Email: [email protected] Mob: 07568 187582.
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