Exmouth lifeboat diverted while on exercise

Injured man rescued from estuary

Exmouth's inshore lifeboat training session on Saturday was interrupted by a real-life emergency.

The volunteers were on a routine exercise when they were diverted to rescue an injured man in the Exe Estuary off Exmouth.

The coastguard had called them to help a coastguard rescue team and Devon Air Ambulance to rescue a casualty with reported leg injuries in the ‘Duck Pond’ area of the river.

He was taken to the Recreation Ground, Exmouth and to a waiting ambulance and then onto the RD&E, but his injuries aren't thought to be serious.

In what was his first rescue assignment as fully qualified Exmouth RNLI helm, Charles Swales said: "This was a multi agency response to a man who had injured his leg on the River Exe and required emergency assistance.

"We were already launched on a training exercise at the time of the call and were able to reach the scene very quickly to help and bring this incident to a successful conclusion. I would like to congratulate one of my crew, Nick Wright, in successfully completing his first tasking as a fully qualified member of the crew."

The charity’s lifeboat, commanded by Helm, Charles Swales, and volunteer crew and Nick Wright immediately diverted to the scene where they assisted the other agencies in conveying the casualty

Other volunteer RNLI crew involved in the tasking were shore crew Roger Jackson, Ed Steele, Rory Carrig and Scott Ranft, and Geoff Mills on the lifeboat.

Exmouth RNIL new boys