Fishermen assist in rescue of badly injured male – Fishupdate.com

Fishermen assist in rescue of badly injured male Published:  14 August, 2006

SHORTLY before 9pm yesterday evening, Swansea Coastguard received a request for assistance from Avon and Somerset police in the recovery of a badly injured male off the beach at Helwell Bay, Watchet.

It would appear that the man was found by three fishermen in a bad way on the beach, six feet from the water’s edge with an incoming tide.

Swansea Coastguard called out the Watchet Coastguard rescue team, requested the launch of the Minehead RNLI inshore lifeboat, and scrambled the RAF rescue helicopter ‘R169’ from Chivenor.

The man who is 38 years of age, was found by the fishermen who managed to get him away from the water’s edge before calling for help from the police.

The Coastguard despatched the Watchet Coastguard rescue team to the scene to assist the other emergency services.

The helicopter evacuated the man quickly to North Devon District Hospital into the care of the medical authorities.

Andrew Christopher, Watch Assistant, Swansea Coastguard said: “We are pleased that we were able to assist our colleagues in Avon and Somerset Police in the execution of this incident.

“This man is very lucky that the three fishermen found him when they did. The tide was rising and it would have soon covered him. It is unknown how he sustained the injuries he has, but he is now being treated for those injuries in hospital.”

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