Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat was on exercise in the Carrick Roads when at 19:10 Falmouth Coastguard received a Mayday from the diving RIB Atlantic Scuba at the East Narrows, reporting that one of its divers had been brought to the surface and needed immediate first aid. The Inshore Lifeboat was tasked to assist, along with a Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose.

The Inshore Lifeboat proceeded immediately and was alongside the diving RIB within a minute. By 19:14 the casualty and another diver had been transferred onto the lifeboat. In view of the casualties condition it was decided to head straight for the lifeboat station where the crew had already been informed that a paramedic was waiting, the inshore lifeboat arriving alongside the slipway at 19:17.

The Paramedic worked with the lifeboat crew to stabilize the casualtys condition, and at 19:32 the helicopter arrived overhead. The helmsman briefed the helicopter of the situation and it was decided that quickest way was for the winchman to be lowered onto the quayside to access the situation. Once the winchman was on the ground it was agreed that rather than attempting to lift the casualty from the inshore lifeboat in the harbour that it would be better to winch him up from the quay. A stretcher was lowered and by 20:01 the casualty was in the aircraft and on his way to Hospital, although the fog prevented the aircraft from landing at the hospital helipad and the casualty was eventually landed at Boscawen Playing Fields in Truro and transferred the short distance to the hospital by land ambulance.

Having packed away their equipment, the inshore lifeboat crew then returned to their exercise at 20:06.

The details of what exactly happened are still uncertain, it is known that two other divers had found the diver unconscious on the seabed. They had made an emergency accent to bring him to the surface and had then given him mouth to mouth prior to getting him onboard the diving RIB. Their actions, the quick thinking and reactions of the lifeboat crew plus the assistance of the paramedic and the amazing skills of the helicopter crew has given the casualty the best possible chance of survival.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

- - - Sponsored Links - - -