Peel RNLI assists with medical emergency aboard fishing vessel

Coastguard helicopter transfers injured person to Noble's Hospital

A coastguard helicopter helped rescue an injured person aboard a fishing vessel seven miles south-west of Peel this week.

On Tuesday (10 February) at around 12:30pm, coastguard and RNLI crews were called out to assist with the medical emergency.

A lifeboat crew from Peel station shadowed the fishing vessel whilst the coastguard helicopter prepared to rescue the casualty.

Once the injured person was lifted from the boat and assessed they were taken to Noble's Hospital for treatment.

Mike Faragher, volunteer coxswain on Peel’s Shannon class lifeboat, Frank and Brenda Winter, says: ‘Arriving on scene at the same time as Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 936, our task was to shadow the fishing vessel while the helicopter prepared to extract the casualty. We stood by, in moderate seas and Force 4 to 5 winds, ready to provide assistance during the extraction.

‘The helicopter winchman was lowered to the fishing vessel, and after assessment the injured person was lifted from the stern of the vessel and flown to Nobles Hospital.  We were then stood down and returned to Peel, pleased that we had been able to support the rescue effort and hopeful for the casualty’s recovery.’

Peel Lifeboat Operations Manager, Allen Corlett, says: ‘This incident is an excellent example of the readiness and commitment of our dedicated volunteers. Within moments of their pagers sounding, boat and shore crew had left their workplaces or lunch breaks to launch to the aid of someone in distress. The willingness of Island employers to allow their staff to respond to such service calls is very much appreciated and is indicative of the support our community has for the work of the RNLI.’  

By 3:30pm Peel’s volunteers had recovered, washed down, rehoused and readied the lifeboat for its next service.