At 1500 on Sunday 19th January 2020, Guernsey Coastguard received a call from the Sark Doctor requesting an emergency patient transfer from Sark to Guernsey.
St Peter Port Lifeboat launched on service at 1520 with 2 paramedics onboard and arrived at La Maseline Harbour at approximately 1545 where the patient was transferred onboard. The Lifeboat returned to St Peter Port at 1611 whereupon the casualty was safely transferred to an ambulance.
The Search and Rescue event of Thursday night where a fisherman was airlifted to safety by a HM Coastguard helicopter was not without incident. The “Spirit of Guernsey” had spotted a suspected target on a rock and requested the Inshore Lifeboat to investigate as she could get no closer herself.
Before the ILB could arrive and investigate more closely, a severe squall blew across the location and the port quarter of the lifeboat came into contact with a submerged rock, of which there are many in the area. The appropriate procedures were followed and the search resumed on one engine. Shortly afterwards, the casualty was discovered and lifted to safety by the Helicopter. An underwater inspection was carried out on the lifeboat’s return to harbour where it was confirmed that some damage had been caused to the port skeg and propeller, resulting in the lifeboat being temporarily removed from service.
The St Peter Port Lifeboat “Spirit of Guernsey” has been replaced on station by the RNLB Fraser Flyer (Civil Service No. 43) pending an out of water hull inspection later this week.
Incidents and occasional damage of this nature are, regrettably, part and parcel of Search and Rescue for which the lifeboat crew are rigorously trained.
Jim Le Pelley, the Station Chairman commented: “This was a fine example of the various SAR agencies and assets working together. It is worth observing that the Humps area is a notoriously dangerous area, especially in the circumstances experienced that night – poor weather, complete darkness and very low spring tides. Most importantly, thanks to crew competence and through following proper procedures, the event was a success in that no lives were lost and the fisherman was saved.”
Last night (Thursday 28th November 2019) the St Peter Port All Weather Lifeboat “Spirit of Guernsey”, the St Peter Port Inshore Lifeboat “Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan” and HM Coastguard Helicopter R175 were tasked to search for a local fisherman who was reported several hours overdue.
The search initially concentrated around Herm and Jethou with R175 searching the area north of Herm. The fisherman was located by R175 on Cul de L’Autel and winched aboard the helicopter. The casualty was transferred to Guernsey Airport and then by Ambulance to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital where he was treated for the effects of hypothermia. The fishing boat itself had sunk several hours earlier and the fisherman had swum to Cul de L’Autel.
The St Peter Port Lifeboat was launched last evening (Sunday 24th November 2019) to go to the assistance of an angler who had got cut off by the tide and was stranded on rocks. As there was still 45 minutes until high water, it was decided to retrieve him before darkness set in.
The Spirit of Guernsey was tasked at 16:06, was on scene at 16:37 and was safely back in St Peter Port, with the casualty at 16:52.
At 16:48 on Sunday 17th November 2019 The all-weather lifeboat (ALB), Spirit of Guernsey was launched by Guernsey Coastguard to go to the assistance of the Guernsey registered fishing vessel ‘Hayley B’ with four persons on board.
The vessel was approximately six nautical miles north of Platte Fougere lighthouse and had suffered complete engine failure.
The lifeboat was alongside ‘Hayley B’ at 17:28 and successfully established a tow. Both vessels arrived back at St Peter Port at 18:28 where the tow was handed over to marina staff from Guernsey harbours.
The Spirit of Guernsey was back on station at 18:49