Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat was just about to do a display at Durgan Regatta when at 15:02 Falmouth Coastguard requested that the Inshore Lifeboat proceed to Porthoustock where they had received a report of a diver requiring medical assistance. The All Weather Lifeboat, which was at an event at Portscatho, was also tasked to proceed along with the Porthoustock Coastguard Mobile and Ambulance Paramedics.

The Inshore Lifeboat left Durgan at 15:03 and arrived off Porthoustock at 15:08. Two lifeboat crew were put ashore with both the first aid and oxygen kits to assess the casualties condition. The casualty was put on oxygen and details of her dive profile and condition were passed via the Coastguard to the Diving Diseases Research Centre (DDRC) at Derriford in Plymouth.

The All Weather Lifeboat arrived on scene at 15:18 and dropped additional equipment ashore in case it was required. As the casualty was stable and had only been on a short shallow dive it was decided that she should be checked over by the Paramedics before a decision was made whether to transport her to Plymouth. The Paramedic Response vehicle arrived at 15:25 followed by the Ambulance at 15:35 and having talked to DDRC it was decided that the casualty could be monitored locally and did not need hospitalisation. In view of this the All Weather Lifeboat was released at 15:41 and once the casualty had departed the beach and the equipment had been collected the Inshore Lifeboat was also released at 16:16 to return to Durgan Regatta.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back at Durgan by 16:25 where they were then able to carry out the lifeboat display that had been postponed earlier due to this incident.

The casualty had been diving at 6m for only 5 minutes when she had developed difficulties and had been escorted to the surface by her buddy. Once on the boat she had fainted so the Coastguard was contacted and she was landed ashore at Porthoustock. Due to fog and low cloud the helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was not available so consideration had been given to moving her by Lifeboat if required.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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