PENLEE lifeboatmen have been praised by their coxswain after successfully transferring a sick sailor from an 80ft sailing ketch in challenging conditions.
The sailor, who was suffering severe abdominal pains, was taken back on board the ‘Ivan Ellen’ to Newlyn from the ketch, situated 30 miles south of the fishing port, and put into a waiting ambulance.
Falmouth Coastguard requested the launch of Penlee’s all weather lifeboat last Wednesday after receiving a call from the yacht skipper saying he was concerned for one of his crew who was suffering from severe stomach pains.
Crew volunteer Wayne Davey, who is also a trained paramedic, was put aboard the yacht at around 12.40pm in a three metre swell and 25 knot winds.
After assessing the man’s condition, it was decided to transfer him to the lifeboat to take him ashore.
‘Patch’ Harvey, RNLI Coxswain at Penlee, says it was a difficult job: “I decided it wouldn’t be safe to take the all weather lifeboat alongside the yacht in such a big sea, so the only way suitable to transfer the man was by using our small inflatable boat that we keep onboard the Severn.
“It’s known as a ‘Y’ boat and carries two crew. With the all weather lifeboat acting as guard vessel, two of my crew David Pascoe and David Raymond operated between us and the yacht to bring the casualty across first, and then another crewman from the yacht and finally, Wayne.
“I’d really like to say a big thank you to all the crew volunteers involved in this shout as they did a fantastic job in testing conditions.”
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