Tobermory RNLI’s volunteer crew had their first shout just 12 hours into 2020 when they went to assist a seriously injured casualty on a remote island in Loch Sunart in the western Scottish Highlands.
The pagers sounded just before midday on Wednesday 1 January and the volunteer crew were tasked by the UK Coastguard to carry out a medical evacuation, or medevac, from the island of Carna for a casualty who had fallen down a flight of stairs.
Tobermory's Severn class lifeboat was launched and the crew collected two Scottish Ambulance Service paramedics from Laga Bay before heading to the island.
Two lifeboat crew members accompanied the paramedics ashore to attend the casualty. After receiving treatment at the scene, the casualty was transferred to the lifeboat which then returned to Laga Bay for a further transfer to the waiting ambulance with the assistance of Salen Coastguard Rescue Team.
The lifeboat returned to Tobermory where it was refuelled and made ready for service shortly before 4pm.
Tobermory RNLI coxswain David McHaffie said: “This was a real team effort with our colleagues from the Scottish Ambulance Service and Salen Coastguard. All of us at the lifeboat station wish the casualty a speedy recovery.”
