A CREWMAN who badly injured his shoulder after a fall in rough seas had to be evacuated from his ship by Falmouth lifeboat.
The all-weather lifeboat with a crew of life Dave Nicoll, Tom Bird, Jonathan Hackwell, Adam West, Will Allen, Tamara Brookes, Jemima Henstridge-Blows was launched on Friday (May 21) after being contacted by Falmouth Coastguard at 11am.
The lifeboat was launched to help an injured crew member. Picture Olie Credition
A 132m Reefer was diverting to Falmouth after one of its crew had suffered a shoulder injury, with the vessel expected in Falmouth Bay in the early evening. At 5:52pm the Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch to carry out the medical evacuation of the casualty. It was launched at 6.10pm The boat headed out into Falmouth Bay into was a WSW 5-6, moderate sea and swell. There was fair visibility, overcast with rain showers.
The lifeboat approaches the 32 foot reefer. Picture Olie Credition
The pilot boat had already transferred a pilot to the vessel which headed into the lee of the west side of Falmouth Bay. Once on scene at 6:14pm the lifeboat went alongside the vessel while underway so the casualty could be transferred to the lifeboat using the pilot ladder.
The crew member was safely on board the lifeboat by 6:22pm and having been assessed by the two casualty care trained lifeboat crew, one of whom was a doctor, the lifeboat then headed back towards Falmouth where the casualty was safely landed ashore to await the arrival of an ambulance.
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A spokesperson for Falmouth lifeboat said: "The seaman had suffered the injury during a fall in rough weather while transiting from the Irish Sea into the Celtic Sea.
The lifeboat approaches the 32 foot reefer. Picture Olie Credition
"Having contacted the coastguard, medical advice was obtained from doctors ashore who advised that the casualty had a badly dislocated shoulder with complications.
The 132m Reefer was diverting to Falmouth after one of its crew had suffered a shoulder injury, with the vessel expected in Falmouth Bay in the early evening. At 5:52pm the Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch to carry out the medical evacuation of the casualty.
"The casualty was transferred to hospital at 8:30pm."
The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 18:42 where it was refuelled and made ready for service by 19:00.
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