Porthoustock Coastguards Cornwall help at crash on Winchester bypass

Two members of Porthoustock Coastguard Rescue Team left St Keverne at 8am yesterday (Friday) to travel to Hampshire, and didn't make it back for more than 15 hours after coming across an emergency on the Winchester bypass.

They had been travelling to take two coastguard vehicles to Lee-on-Solent, dropping one of them off at a training centre that had been used for COP26.

On returning back to Cornwall the team members came across a three-car crash that had only just happened on the Winchester bypass just after 4.45pm.

Picture: Porthoustock Coastguard

Fortunately both team members were trained in collision rescues and, with no other emergency services on the scene, they swung into action.

A Porthoustock Coastguard spokesperson said: "No other services were on scene or had been called at the time.

"Fortunately the two team members are trained in collisions and the coastguard vehicle was equipped with first aid equipment, so they pulled over to assist."

Picture: Porthoustock Coastguard

With the coastguard vehicle's blue lights put on to warn oncoming traffic in the fading light, and both team members wearing high vis jackets, one dealt with the casualties while the other called Hampshire Constabulary to request the police, also making sure all the cars, and the scene, were safe.

The coastguard spokesperson added: "With it not being our area 'what3words' was crucial to giving a precise location - an example of how well the app works.

"Two casualties were ok whilst one had chest pains and breathing difficulties.

"The casualty was monitored until onward care was arranged." Eventually the incident was handed over fully to the police and the coastguard duo continued their journey back to Cornwall, eventually arriving home at 11.30pm.

"This was another example of multi agency working and the coastguard rescue team's ability to deal with any incident they come across safely and efficiently," said the spokesperson.