INJURED MAN EVACUATED FROM YACHT IN CHALLENGING WEATHER CONDITIONS

At 10.50 pm yesterday, Portland Coastguard received a radio message from the eight metre yacht ‘Skean Dhu’ which was passing thirteen miles south of Portland Bill while on passage to Dartmouth. She reported that one of the two crew aboard had fallen heavily and suffered a head and possible spinal injury.

The Coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent was scrambled and Weymouth RNLI  all weather lifeboat, with a doctor onboard, was launched. In addition the Royal Navy frigate HMS Portland which was exercising close by offered her assistance. In worsening weather conditions (strong winds, gusting to gale force) the doctor and a crewman from the lifeboat were transferred to the Skean Dhu. The helicopter winchman was lowered to HMS Portland’s sea boat and was also transferred to the yacht. The 63-year-old man was prepared for winching into the helicopter before being flown to Southampton General Hospital. Meanwhile, due to the worsening weather conditions, the doctor and lifeboat crewman remained on the now single-handed yacht while she was escorted by the lifeboat across Lyme Bay towards Brixham.

The escort was taken over by Torbay RNLI lifeboat at 3.30 am and Weymouth Lifeboat returned. The yacht and lifeboat arrived at Brixham at about 6.00 am.

Steve Williams Portland Coastguard Watch Manager says:

“This was a challenging evacuation of a man with suspected severe injuries. Weather conditions meant that it was important that the crews on scene were able to use HMS Portland’s seaboat for assistance. The injured man has arrived in hospital and is receiving medical attention.”

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