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Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: John Blakeston (Coxswain), Diane Bush, Carl Beardmore, Neil Capper, Sandy Procter
Location: Off Lowland Point, near the Manacles
Shout Date: 20/08/2011 - 16:20
Weather:SW 4, Slight Sea and Swell, Good Visibility, Overcast

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At 16:09 Falmouth Coastguard requested that both Falmouth All Weather and Inshore Lifeboats be launched following a call from the Diving Boat Celtic Kitten reporting an unconscious diver requiring medical evacuation. The dive boat at the time still had a number of divers in the water. A rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose and the Porthoustock Cliff Rescue Team were also tasked to assist.

The All Weather Lifeboat left its pontoon berth at 16:20 and headed across Falmouth Bay towards the Manacles. The helicopter by this time was already on scene and airlifted the casualty from the vessel and departed for Treliske Hospital. The remaining divers were recovered by other vessels in the area which had responded to the VHF call for assistance and were placed back onboard the Celtic Kitten. The inshore lifeboat met up with the dive boat off Porthoustock at 16:28 and escorted the boat back to Porthkerris to obtain additional dive information from the casualty’s dive buddy. The All Weather lifeboat arrived on scene off Porthkerris at 16:45 and once the coastguard was happy that the situation was resolved the lifeboat was released to return to its station at 16:55.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 17:22. The lifeboat was then refuelled and was ready for service by 17:40.

The diver is believed to have been returning to the surface with her buddy when something went wrong and she made a rapid accent. The dive boat recovered the unconscious casualty onto their boat and gave immediate first aid prior to the casualty being evacuated by helicopter to hospital where she is believed to have made a full recovery.