Burnham lifeboat crews simulate rescue of casualty from dredging boat


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Published: March 9, 2008
Burnham lifeboat crews simulate rescue of casualty from dredging boat

Burnham-On-Sea lifeboat crews have rehearsed the dramatic rescue of an 'injured' man from onboard a dredging boat in Bridgwater Bay.

Both Burnham RNLI lifeboats were launched to help evacuate the 'casualty' from the Arco Dart dredger during a special training exercise.

The lifeboat station's rescue dummy, nick-named Bob, became the casualty which was lying in the electrician’s office of the Arco Dart dredger with a leg trapped at an awkward angle.

The lifeboat crew were tasked with evacuating Bob to the safety of dry land and Burnham's Atlantic 75 boat, The Daisy Aitkin, had the role of placing crewmembers onboard the dredger while the D-Class lifeboat, Forever Forward Denise, assisted in a support role.

Crewmembers boarded the vessel and made their way with a stretcher and supply of oxygen to the electrician’s office where they found the 'casualty'.

After an initial assessment, the RNLI crew placed Bob on a stretcher and, with a carefully donned lifejacket, moved him with some difficulty up a ship’s ladder onto the deck and transferred him to The Daisy Aitkin for the shoreward journey.

The Arco Dart’s crew said afterwards that the stretcher delivery and recovery has been smoothly undertaken without any problems.

The remainder of the lifeboat crew were ferried back to shore onboard Forever Forward Denise, while the 'casualty' was transferred by Kay's Cart to the shore by the Sailing club.

Training coordinator Glen Cutter said: "It was a well-carried out, successful exercise and any loose ends were followed up during a debriefing session the following training night."

Lifeboat Operations Manager Ricky Holmes added: "We are extremely grateful to Hanson Aggregates for the chance to undertake this valuable exercise. Our crewmembers performed well."