THE team at the Abersoch Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station were paged to assist a casualty taken ill on board a vessel at Porth Ceiriad last week.

On arriving at the scene on Tuesday, October 12, in a calm sea state and fair weather conditions, RNLI volunteer helm Fritz Williams decided that, due to difficulty moving the casualty and the fact he was in a warm, comfortable cabin, they would stay onboard while the vessel travelled back to Pwllheli Marina in Gwynedd, where extraction would be safer and easier.

With a crew member on the large power boat to assist with the boat and give medical attention if needed, the lifeboat followed behind.

The casualty was met at the marina by Welsh Ambulance paramedics, UK Coastguard members and the team from the Coastguard Search and Rescue 936 helicopter, where he was then transferred to hospital for further examination.

Abersoch RNLI lifeboat operations manager, Andy Vowell, said: “The family took the correct action in swiftly requesting help when the skipper reported feeling unwell.

“The vessel was well equipped with VHF radio, mobile phone and flares, so they were able to efficiently communicate with the UK Coastguard.”