Injured woman recovered from inaccessible Portsmouth Shoreline on a rising tide
A 22-year-old was safely recovered from the Shoreline at Fraser Ranges by Portsmouth RNLI volunteers
On Monday 13th May at 12:58PM the Portsmouth Lifeboat was paged by Solent Coastguard for an immediate launch to reports of an injured woman in the water by Old Portsmouth hot walls.
The RNLI volunteer crew were already at the station preparing the Atlantic 85 (Relief boat Ted Dawber) for a training exercise when the pager alert came through and immediately prepared and launched the boat to assist.
Our Atlantic 85 (B-941) made good progress through the onshore force 4 winds and rough sea state to Old Portsmouth where they commenced a local search.
As the boat arrived on scene we received updated reports from the Coastguard the casualty has seen the lifeboat pass them and that they were trapped on the Shoreline near Fraser Firing Ranges at Langstone, the other end of Portsmouth. This was also verified by the police who were now on scene.
On receiving the new information the D-Class (D-850) Dennis Faro was launched to assist as this new location is close to the lifeboat station. The D class arrived at scene as the Atlantic 85 also arrived back from Old Portsmouth.
The crew conducted a quick visual assessment of the situation and could see the casualty on the Shoreline just above the corroding sea defences. The waves by this point were breaking on the defences and over the casualty. With the wind increasing, gusting to a force 5 and a rising tide it was essential we could establish direct contact with the casualty quickly.
Due to the corroding sea defences and obstructions it was not possible to get the crew close to casualty location so the lifeboat beached on the limited shore through the dumping surf 200 yards west of the casualty and two crew members made for land.
The crew made their way along the treacherous shore line to the casualty with first aid equipment, over uneven ground, large boulders and slippery concrete with the waves crashing over them.
On reaching the casualty the crew undertook a full assessment, they ensured the casualty was warm as the waves broke over them while the best and quickest extraction method was considered.
It was concluded using the Coastguard Helicopter "Rescue 163" was the safest and quickest method, but it was not without difficulties. The location had numerous overhead obstructions from the barbed wire fence above so the lifeboat crew assisted with a highline recovery to stabilise the winch crew from the helicopter with a rope from the ground.
The casualty was safely lifted and landed to the awaiting Coastguard team and Ambulance crew for ongoing care.
While the casualty was passed to the medical team our crew remained on the shore holding a safety lined dropped by the Fire service while they cut through the fence above and able to lower a ladder giving them a route to safety.
Once all crew were safely ashore and no one remained at risk in the water our assets were stood down and returned to the station to be recovered and made ready for service.
Portsmouth RNLI were later contacted by the casualty who had been released from hospital following treatment the same evening and thanked us and the crew for their help.
Helm Rob Gargaro said: 'It was great to see members of the Coastguard, Fire Service, RNLI and the police work together to bring the the incident to a successful end in what were very challenging and deteriorating conditions.'
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