Lifeboat ferries paramedic to Holy Island

At 6.25am on Monday, UK Coastguard requested the launch of Seahouses All Weather Lifeboat because the Holy Island causeway was closed by the tide.

As the ambulance dispatched was from Belford Ambulance Station, it was directed to Seahouses.

On arrival of the ambulance, the lifeboat was ready to launch on the slipway. The paramedic was taken aboard, and the lifeboat made best speed to Holy Island, while the road ambulance travelled to the mainland side of the causeway.

On arrival at Holy Island, the paramedic was met by the Holy Island Coastguard team, who escorted him to the casualty’s location, where the casualty was treated and assessed.

It was decided that evacuation by sea was not necessary, and a road ambulance would be able to cross the causeway when safe to do so, and there was no immediate urgency. Seahouses Lifeboat was then released to return to station at 8.15am.

Seahouses Lifeboat operations manager Ian Clayton said: “This is now a well rehearsed procedure between the North East Ambulance, UK Coastguard, ourselves and our colleagues at Berwick Lifeboat Station. Which lifeboat is tasked, depends on which station the ambulance is responding from. It was yet another example of good professional multi agency co-operation, with a positive outcome.”