Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards were called out to Weston on Saturday afternoon (August 28th) after a young water skier suffered a suspected back injury in an accident near the Grand Pier.
Coastguards from Burnham, Clevedon and Weston were quickly on scene, along with a Weston lifeboat crew.
As the RNLI lifeboat crew got closer, they spotted the casualty still in the sea. Three of the crew entered the water to start assessing the girl, applying a neck collar and preparing a spinal board.
The Rescue 187 Coastguard Helicopter arrived moments later and its trained paramedic was winched onto the lifeboat so he could also help the injured female.
The lifeboat crew said the rigid-hulled inflatable boat, which had been towing her while she was skiing, had been travelling at about 47 miles per hour when the young female had lost control and “cartwheeled” several times.
Along with the paramedic from the helicopter, they carefully manoeuvred the casualty and secured her onto the spinal board.
Once ashore, the casualty was carried to the helicopter which then transferred her to hospital in Bristol for treatment.
