RNLI Portrush crew on shout
Portrush All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) was requested to launch by the Coastguard today (Friday) at 5.08am to assist with a medical evacuation off Rathlin Island.
The volunteer crew launched at 5.28 am into a bitterly cold morning and rough seas for the 60-minute journey to Rathlin Island to assist with the transfer of a 63-year-old person with a dislocated hip from the island to Ballycastle Harbour to handover to the ambulance service.
When the ALB crew arrived on scene the Rathlin Island Coastguard team and a district nurse were waiting to assist with the medevac.
Once the casualty was safely on board the ALB made her way to Ballycastle Harbour to wait for an ambulance where they were able to transfer the casualty to the Ambulance with the assistance of Ballycastle Coastguard Team.
After a quick breakfast the volunteer crew under Coxswain Perry Walton headed for home, arriving back in Portrush Harbour at 11.20am.
Beni McAllister, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Portrush RNLI said:
“We have practiced this with the Coastguard and Rathlin Island in the past to ensure that we can cope with this type of call.
“Although it was an early start into the dark, the experienced volunteer crew knew exactly what had to be done. Their casualty care training has equipped them to expertly deal with this type of injury and where able to administer appropriate medication to alleviate the pain of the casualty until the handover to the Ambulance service was completed.
“We all send our best wishes to the casualty for a speedy recovery’.”