MAN RESCUED FROM EARNSE BAY
A man was transferred to hospital by helicopter today
after sustaining a knee injury and being unable to make it back to shore in
Earnse Bay on the western side of Walney Island near Barrow-in-Furness.
A member of the public contacted Liverpool Coastguard at
5.40 pm to let them know that they could see a man and a dog approximately half
a mile out, surrounded by water at the top of Earnse Bay. He
observed that the man looked to be struggling but was not making his way back
to the shore or out of the water.
Liverpool Coastguard sent the Walney Coastguard Rescue
Team to the scene, along with requesting the launch of the Duddon Inshore
Lifeboat and scrambling a helicopter from RAF Valley. Once the coastguard rescue team arrived on
scene they reported that the man was face down in the water and appeared to be
unresponsive. At this point, Liverpool
Coastguard also requested an ambulance attend.
The casualty was then brought ashore by the lifeboat and paramedics
worked on him until the helicopter arrived.
Once transferred to the helicopter he was taken to Furness General
Hospital. By the time he arrived at the
hospital the man was reported to be conscious and speaking to the helicopter
crew. The dog is currently being looked
after by local Police.
Liverpool Coastguard Watch Manager Paul Parkes said:
“This man owes his life to the quick thinking member of
the public who spotted him in difficulty and reported it to us. It appears that he had suffered a knee injury
that meant he was unable to make it to shore and when the coastguard rescue
team located him and found him face down in the water they feared the
worst. Luckily their attempts at giving
CPR and the work that the paramedics and the helicopter crew did to stabilise
him were successful and by the time he was transferred to hospital he had
regained consciousness and was able to talk.
We are so grateful to the member of the public who raised the alarm and
would ask anyone who sees anyone at the coast who they believe to be in
difficulty to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”