Severely injured yachtsman rescued in North Sea

Severely injured yachtsman rescued in North Sea

LONDON. April 6, 2008/3mnewswire.org/ -- Since 0020 this morning, Yarmouth Coastguard and the crew of RAF Rescue Helicopter 125 have dealt with two separate medical evacuations off the Norfolk Coast in less than three hours.

The first, an urgent evacuation of a 44 year old Dutch man with severe head injuries from the Yacht "Waikiki" - on passage from Ijmuiden in the Netherlands to Lowestoft and some 40 miles from land when the incident occurred - was in the closing stages when a call was received from the passenger ferry "Pride Of Hull" reporting that a 33 year old British national had suffered a fall on board, had arm injuries and was drifting in and out of consciousness.

Both men were safely evacuated to a local hospital by the helicopter, and Gorleston Coastguard Rescue Team attended to secure a safe landing site for the helicopter to drop off their patients.

Wayne Brunning, Yarmouth Coastguard Watch Manager said,

"We would like to thank the crew of Rescue Helicopter 125 and Gorleston Coastguard Rescue Team for ensuring that these people were evacuated for treatment as quickly and safely as possible. Whilst it is unusual to get two incidents of this type in quick succession, both incidents were dealt with as quickly and professionally as one would expect."

"We would also like to extend our thanks to our colleagues in the German Navy, the Dutch Navy and also the Dutch Coastguard. Their help was vital in the successful location of the "Waikiki", and ensured that this gentleman was found and evacuated as quickly as humanly possible. This is an example of international co-operation overcoming difficult circumstances and bringing about a successful conclusion."

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