UK Coastguard Alerted to Man Injured on Boat 600 Miles Off Shore

Falmouth Coastguard received a call early today from a member of the public who was very worried about a friend, Alan thompson from Chichester, aged 61, who single handedly, is bringing a yacht `Padolu’ back from the US to the UK and had fallen severely hurting himself.

Mr. Thompson had been in touch with his shore side colleague asking for help and the UK Coastguard had been contacted. The friend had described how Mr. Thompson, a UK national, had fallen and damaged his hip and required urgent medical attention.

It was then established via a link to the yacht that the vessel is presently 600 nautical miles north east of Bermuda, and that Mr. Thompson was in severe pain and had very limited movement.

Falmouth Coastguard alerted the United States Coastguard who are responsible for that search and rescue co-ordination in that sea area.

It was also established that on board `Padolu’ is an American registered Emergency Radio Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and a SART ( a Search and Rescue Transponder, which when activated, and with a vessel with a radar that is operating in the 9Ghz bandwidth will be able to home on your vessel, or life raft).

The UK Coastguard were able to link a doctor from Queen Alexandra Hospital to Mr Thompson on board the vessel, and it was clear to the doctor that the injured man needed to be given medical treatment ashore.

The vessel is currently out of helicopter range and the nearest vessel, an oil tanker, is five hours steaming away. No other vessels are anywhere nearby.

Self medication was also prescribed via the radio link given the medical supplies on board `Padolu’ and it was also agreed that the US Coastguard at Norfolk would be in touch with Mr Thompson hourly to check on his condition whilst the merchant vessel was on its way to Mr Thompson’s aid.

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