2 June 2007 - Woman rescued after sustaining injury

1603 Another beautiful calm day in Poole saw both boats being launched to a report of a person with a spinal injury in Studland Bay.

A Mayday was called on channel 16 from a 14m Princess motor yacht, reporting that a woman had sustained a back injury whilst out on 2m inflatable which was the tender to the Princess. When the ILB arrived on scene they found the woman in a lot of pain and unable to move. Whiskey Bravo the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Portland had also arrived on scene.

The helicopter tried to lower the winchman directly to the craft with the casualty on board but the downdraft from the helicopter was causing her more discomfort. It was then decided that the helicopter would lower the winchman onto the ILB after pulling clear from the casualty.

The ILB transferred the winchman and a crew member from the ILB to the motor yacht so they could work together to immobilise the casualty. In the meantime, the ILB ferried more equipment from the helicopter to the motor yacht, while the casualty was being prepared to be winched. The all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was also alongside in case the spine board and stretcher were required or they needed to transfer the casualty to the ALB before being winched into the helicopter.

Both the ALB and ILB then cleared a path through the throngs of boats that had congregated to watch the ongoing incident. When a path was clear the helicopter transferred the casualty smoothly off the Princess motor yacht whilst the vessel was underway. The casualty was then taken by helicopter to Poole hospital.