Palos

The crew from the RNLI’s Barrow station launched the all weather lifeboat "Grace Dixon" on Aug 31 at 7.40 p.m. to attend the "Stemat Spirit" in the Irish Sea, where two casualties were in need of a medical evacuation. The Liverpool Coastguard had requested lifeboat assistance at 7.30 p.m. following a report from the cable layer that two of his crew were ill and required immediate evacuation to hospital. One, a Filipino national, was apparently suffering from a stroke and the second from the UK suffered from a severe abdominal problem. The vessel at the time was west of the Walney Windfarm approximately 7 miles from the mainland and was engaged in a cable laying operation. The tide was flooding at the time with high water of 7.2 metres expected at 9 p.m., and the wind was a Force 4 from the northwest. The "Grace Dixon" was launched at 7.40 p.m. and arrived on scene at 8. 05 p.m. Due to the size and position of the ship coupled with the swell of eight feet, it was a difficult manoeuvre to get alongside the vessel and took two attempts before the Deputy 2nd Coxswain and a crewman were able to make the jump between the vessels and onto the pilot ladder to climb aboard. Once aboard both casualties were assessed and it was decided to recover them to the lifeboat where further treatment could be administered. Once the lifeboat was brought alongside, the ship and lifeboat crews helped to get the two casualties aboard the lifeboat where oxygen was administered to one and entonox pain killing gas to the other. The lifeboat then made her way back to Barrow lifeboat station where she arrived at 9.15 p.m. An ambulance crew along with a Filipino interpreter were awaiting the arrival and both casualties were taken to Furness General Hospital for further treatment. Report with photo: http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/Barrow-all-weather-lifeboat-called-to-evacuate-two-casualties-from-ship-in-Irish.aspx