Four airlifted to hospital after boat capsizes
Posted: October 21, 2013
Posted in: Workplace Injuries
After a boat capsized off the Gwynedd coast over the weekend, its four crewmembers were airlifted to hospital. The alarm was raised by a member of public who witnessed the 15-20ft (5-6m) sailing boat overturn close to the shore between Aberdyfi and Tywyn. After the boat capsized, the four crewmembers – who were all wearing life jackets – succeeded in swimming back to shore safely after lifeboats were unable to rescue them.
When the four crewmembers successfully made it back ashore the Aberdyfi coastguard team, who decided that they should all attend hospital as a precautionary measure, assessed them. All four were taken to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth by an RAF rescue helicopter from Anglesey.
‘Caught in the surf, making a lifeboat rescue almost impossible’
The upturned boat is currently being recovered, and when asked about why the lifeboat could not reach the crewmembers, the coastguard said that they were caught in the surf with the boat, making it almost impossible for a lifeboat rescue to be carried out.
RNLI statistics:
- The RNLI operates 444 lifeboats (332 are on station, 112 are in the relief fleet), from 236 lifeboat stations around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
- The RNLI’s lifeboats rescued an average of 22 people a day in 2011.
- RNLI lifeboats launched 8,321 times in 2012, (rescuing 7,912 people).
- The RNLI’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 140,000 lives since it was founded in 1824.
If you have sustained an injury at sea or at work, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us.
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