SHORTLY after 3pm on Monday afternoon, October 5, the crew of Angle Lifeboat were tasked to assist a crew member onboard a fishing vessel suffering a cardiac episode 12 miles south west of St Ann’s Head.

The lifeboat launched shortly after and with the fishing vessel making best speed back towards the Haven the crew rendezvoused with the vessel five miles off St Ann’s Head.

With the casualty reported to be conscious and breathing and the conditions not suitable for a transfer, a plan was made for both boats to proceed to the shelter of Mill Bay where the casualty could be taken onboard the lifeboat. Once in the calmer waters of Mill Bay, the casualty was transferred onboard and assessed by Angle RNLI’s casualty care trained crew members.

At this point, Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R387 from St Athan was arriving on scene and after the initial assessment from the crew it was decided that the winch paramedic from the helicopter would be required. The paramedic was winched aboard the lifeboat and the casualty was soon packaged and winched into the helicopter for onward transfer to hospital in Cardiff.

With no further assistance required, the crew were stood down and returned to station where the lifeboat was back alongside and ready for further service by 4.45pm.

All who were involved in the rescue were thanked for their efforts. “I can’t thank Angle Lifeboat RNLI enough,” reads a comment on the crew’s Facebook page. “Words will never describe how grateful I am.”