Inshore Lifeboat helps woman with suspected broken leg on Northumberland coast during harsh weather conditions

The Seahouses Inshore Lifeboat team were requested to launch and assist Howick and Seashouses Coastguard Rescue Teams at Beadnall Bay at 1.11pm on Saturday, February 22.

A woman, thought to be a visitor to the area, had gone for a walk just south of the Long Nanny and sustained a suspected fracture to her ankle and lower leg and extraction by sea was considered to be the most appropriate option due to harsh weather conditions.

The beach in the area was ‘soft’ and unsuitable for a vehicle to access and was ‘well away’ from the road to be accessed by an ambulance.

Weather conditions were ‘not good’, with strong squally snow and sleet showers, whipping up a choppy sea. The conclusion was to take the Inshore Lifeboat by road and launch at Beadnall Bay, north of the incident.

On arrival, the amount of breaking surf made a transfer to the inshore lifeboat from the beach potentially difficult, so the lifeboat was released, and a Rescue Helicopter from Prestwick was called.

The casualty was taken aboard the aircraft and taken to hospital for treatment.

Inshore lifeboats (ILBs) usually operate closer to shore, in shallower water, near cliffs, rocks and sometimes in caves. The Lifeboat was recovered onto its trailer at Beadnell, and returned to Seahouses by road.