Volunteers from Littlehampton Coastguard sprang into action on Sunday afternoon after reports of a person stranded and suffering from severe hip and pelvic pain on West Beach, West Sussex. The casualty was unable to move and required urgent assistance.
Working alongside ambulance crews, the Coastguard team assessed the best method to safely evacuate the injured individual. One option considered was using the Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat to ferry the patient closer to a road. However, the safest plan involved carrying the casualty on a stretcher over a steep, narrow path through the sand dunes.
While the rescue team navigated the difficult terrain, the lifeboats remained on standby offshore, prepared to assist if necessary. They also delivered a heavy-duty stretcher to the scene to aid in the evacuation.
A Critical Care Paramedic from the South East Coast Ambulance Service was called in to provide stronger pain relief before the casualty was moved. Once the patient was stabilized, they were carefully transferred to a waiting ambulance for hospital treatment.
Representatives from Littlehampton Coastguard stated, “All Coastguard Officers are extensively trained in casualty care and extraction techniques. We regularly undergo stretcher handling training to ensure preparedness for responding to incidents in remote and challenging locations. Yesterday’s operation involved navigating a narrow and steep path across the sand dunes to reach the casualty.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
