One person taken to hospital after rescue in Rye Bay

One person was taken to hospital after being rescued from a tall ship in Rye Bay.
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The Rye Harbour RNLI lifeboat team was called by the coastguard at 5.10pm on Tuesday (April 6) to the ship which was located five miles into Rye Bay.

The Training Ship Royalist, a two-masted square-rigger of 32m, had on board a casualty with injuries to their hand and arm.

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Rye Harbour sent its Atlantic 85 ILB (inshore lifeboat) to the tall ship while gaining basic information about the casualty. On arrival, the helm Matt Ellis decided to put two crewmen – Tim and George – aboard the tall ship.

A still from a helmet camera during the rescue. Picture supplied by Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station SUS-210904-162233001A still from a helmet camera during the rescue. Picture supplied by Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station SUS-210904-162233001
A still from a helmet camera during the rescue. Picture supplied by Rye Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Station SUS-210904-162233001

“The casualty was already in good hands,” said Tim, “because this training vessel was staffed by highly competent sailors.”

Rye Harbour said the initial plan was to transfer the casualty to the lifeboat and take him to emergency services on land but it was decided to deploy a SAR (search and rescue) helicopter from nearby Lydd.

Tim added: “A paramedic from the helicopter was winched down to Royalist and she continued giving first aid while the helicopter refuelled at Lydd before returning. It was then possible to transfer the casualty swiftly to hospital in Ashford. The two lifeboat crew rejoined Hello Herbie II for the journey back to the lifeboat station in Rye Harbour.

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“We train to help save lives at sea, and we encounter all sorts of situations. Here there was a casualty on a very well-run training ship and a highly professional helicopter crew: we were glad to play our part in the rescue.”