Major rescue launched after boat runs aground on Lymington River

A MAJOR rescue operation was launched after a RIB ran aground in Lymington River with an injured person on board.

Responding to a mayday call around 11.45pm on Sunday, HM Coastguard sent Yarmouth RNLI to help the seven-strong crew of the vessel which got into difficulty on the marshes to the east of the river’s mouth.

Severn class all-weather lifeboat Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) was launched from Yarmouth Harbour and soon found the RIB. Due to its proximity to the shore, the RNLI crew deployed its ‘Y’ boat to assess the situation.

The incident quickly became a multi-agency rescue, involving a Lymington Coastguard team as well as a coastguard helicopter, Hampshire police and South Central Ambulance Service.

Yarmouth RNLI requested back-up from HM Coastguard and Lymington RNLI’s inshore lifeboat after finding one of the stricken vessel’s passengers required medical assistance.

Having suffered a back injury, the casualty was airlifted by the coastguard helicopter before being transferred to a waiting ambulance.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard Lymington told the A&T: “Lymington Coastguard rescue team set up a helicopter landing site at Woodside Park to recover the casualty suffering from suspected back injuries.

“The helicopter was met by the coastguard team which transferred him to a waiting ambulance which, I believe, took him to Bournemouth hospital for further treatment.”

The other six people on board, who were shaken and suffering from the cold, were taken ashore.

The RIB was recovered from the marshes and towed back to Lymington by the inshore lifeboat.