Lifeboat crew called to Holy Island medical emergency hours after jubilee medals presentation

The crew held an informal ceremony and social evening at the Lifeboat Station, in Seahouses, on Friday (July 1) evening to mark their presentation with the award, which was created specially to mark the Monarch’s Platinum Jubilee.

But at 3.16am today they were awoken following a request to launch the all-weather lifeboat.

The UK Coastguard requested the vessel’s assistance after being alerted to a medical emergency on Holy Island while the causeway was closed by the tide.

Paramedics from Belford arrived as the boat was being prepared to launch and were taken aboard the lifeboat for the 18-minute passage.

The casualty was assessed and later evacuated to Seahouses Harbour, where he was taken by ambulance Cramlington Critical Care Hospital.

Seahouses Lifeboat Volunteer Coxswain Keith Slater said: “This was a straight forward casualty evacuation, and we wish the casualty well and hope he makes a speedy recovery. We were glad we were able to be of assistance for him.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed one patient had been taken to hospital: "We were called to a medical incident on Holy Island at 2.54am yesterday morning.

"We dispatched one ambulance crew and requested support from the coastguard for transportation across to the island due to the tide.

"One patient was taken to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital for further treatment."