Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
20th April 2013
Launch to Carry Out Medical Evacuation from Cruise Ship 'Azura'
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Selsey all weather lifeboat 'Voluntary Worker' launched at 08:40 with the lifeboat doctor on board to rendezvous with the cruise ship Azura in a position 2m Southeast of the Nab Tower.
Once there the lifeboat crew expedited a medical evacuation of a passenger who was possibly suffering from a stroke and seizures and was too unwell for helicopter transfer to hospital.
The patient, who was accompanied by his wife and son, was made stable and comfortable by the ships' medical team and safely transferred to the lifeboat at 10:12 under the supervision of the lifeboat doctor.
A course was set for Camber Dock at Portsmouth, which was reached at 11:00 where the lifeboat was met by a coastguard unit. The patient was subsequently transferred by ambulance to Queen Alexanda's Hospital in Cosham.
'Voluntary Worker' was released at 11:57 and returned to station at 13:10, rehoused and made ready for service.
The casualty’s son, Paul, left his coat on board the lifeboat and lifeboat crew member, Sam, returned this to him at the hospital when on route to Southampton. Paul was pleased to inform Sam that his "father was doing well, sitting up in bed and chatting and that it was an urinary infection that he was suffering from. We would like to pass on our thanks to everyone involved in the evacuation."
CREW: G.Mellett (Coxswain), G.Pearce (2nd Coxswain), P.Pitham (Mechanic), M.Gilligan, C.Sergeant, S.Troughton-Smith, A.Lee, and Dr.M.Lacey (Lifeboat Doctor)
WIND: Northeast 2-3. SEA: Slight. WEATHER: Sunny.