21st October 2021. We have received a glowing report from Hillhead Coastguard Rescue Team concerning NCI Watchkeepers taking the lead at a medical emergency at Beach and as they put it, “Going above and beyond the call of duty.”
An elderly female had fallen and injured herself on the promenade path about 50 metres from the NCI Lee-On-The-Solent lookout where Watchkeepers Tony and Jaye were on duty.
Jaye attended the scene and the ambulance service were requested to attend. After a considerable delay the decision was made to ask HMCG for assistance resulting in Hillhead CRT responding. Weather conditions were very unfavourable and continuing to deteriorate but Jaye remained with the casualty for three hours until the ambulance arrived.
By this time a watch change had taken place and Andy and Peter took over the next watch. As well as the unfavourable weather, NCI Lee-On-The-Solent station is in the process of building renovations and where without electricity so no landline phone or VHF radio was available.
We must say ‘well done’ to our watchkeepers and Jaye in particular. The injured female must have been very grateful for Jaye’s comforting presence. This was a brilliant use of ingenuity and lateral thinking to overcome the difficulties of the situation.
(No criticism of the Ambulance Service is intended as we are aware they are struggling under difficult circumstances)