RNLI Lifeboat in Foreshore Rescue

Local crew combine with helicopter to save man

On Tuesday afternoon Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat was mooring up at its jetty on Chiswick pier after an exercise in Richmond when London Coastguard radioed "Chiswick Immediate". Helmsman Mark Turrell immediately proceeded at full speed to the foreshore just north of Fulham football ground where a man had fallen 20 feet onto the foreshore. He had sustained a number of cuts and bruises and an open fracture of the humerus. With a fall from that height possible spinal injury was also a major concern. The Air Ambulance had also arrived.

The lifeboat crew worked with the helicopter paramedics applying dressings and oxygen. Once the casualty was stabilised and on a stretcher the team transferred the casualty into the helicopter. He was then taken to hospital.

Mark Turrell said "The joint efforts of the air ambulance and lifeboat crews were essential in this incident as there is no access to the foreshore from the land side in this location".

The lifeboat crews are all trained in first aid and frequently train for this type of incident, often in joint exercises with the London Ambulance Service, where casualties with suspected spinal injuries have to be safely moved with minimum disturbance in very difficult conditions.

The RNLI has 233 lifeboat stations including four on the Thames. Chiswick RNLI lifeboat became operational on the 2nd January 2002. Since then it has responded to over 1,000 emergency calls. The four Thames lifeboats together have responded to over 3,500 calls. The RNLI is entirely supported by voluntary contributions.

May 29, 2008