Coral-Ocean

The Eastbourne RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was tasked in the afternoon of June 13, 2013, to assist with the evacuation of an injured crewman from the "Coral Island" off Eastbourne. The luxury cruiser on passage to Gibraltar contacted Dover Coastguard when the 1st officer fell and suffered facial injuries that required professional treatment. The initial intention was for Eastbourne all-weather lifeboat to take the injured man off the cruiser and take him to a waiting ambulance at Sovereign Harbour. En-route to the casualty it became evident that to complete a transfer in the prevailing weather conditions was going to be extremely hazardous in the strong winds and three metre swellThe coxswain therefore requested the scrambling of Coastguard rescue helicopter 104 to assist. Whilst the ALB stood by the injured man was airlifted from the cruiser and taken to Eastbourne DGH for treatment. Report with photo: http://rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/Eastbourne-RNLI-involved-in-medivac.aspx The cruiser later anchored in Eastbourne Bay to await news from the hospital of their injured colleague whilst the lifeboat returned to station.