Chiswick Lifeboat rescues its 500th casualty

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Crew celebrates the safe retrieval of two rowers that set an impressive record

At 16.37 on Wednesday 12th April 2006 Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat rescued its 500th casualty.

The lifeboat responded to a report of a collision between a two man rowing boat and a buoy in Syon Reach.

When the lifeboat arrived both rowers, Steve Dixon and George Turner, had managed to clamber onto the buoy and were holding onto their boat.

In the collision, Steve Dixon had received a heavy blow to the back of the ribcage and was finding it painful to breathe; both were suffering from the cold.

The lifeboat crew transferred the rowers into the lifeboat, gave them blankets and dressed the injured man’s open wound.

RNLI helmsman Neil Roberts said “After they were safely in the lifeboat the two rowers were in high spirits and delighted to be the 499th and 500th people rescued by Chiswick Lifeboat.”

After dropping off the boat and one of the rowers at Tideway Scullers rowing club, the injured man was returned to Chiswick and transferred to a waiting ambulance. He is expected to make a full recovery. The two rowers are medical students in their third year at Kings College London.

Chiswick RNLI lifeboat became operational on the 2nd January 2002. Since then it has responded to over 880 emergency calls. The four Thames lifeboats together have responded to over 2000 calls. The lifeboat service is all about teamwork.

The Thames lifeboats have a crew of three: a helmsman, a mechanic and a volunteer crew member. On an emergency service call the helmsman is in charge of the incident.

The mechanic handles radio communication with the coastguard who coordinates search and rescue on the river Thames via the 999 service.

The volunteer crew member deals with casualty handling and first aid, although all crewmembers are trained by the RNLI in all the necessary skills.

The RNLI has 233 lifeboat stations including four on the Thames. Chiswick Lifeboat is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in the UK recovering over 100 people each year.

The RNLI is entirely supported by voluntary contributions.

 

April 13, 2006