A yacht skipper sustained suspected broken ribs after falling through a deck hatch on the River Thames near Dartford on Sunday morning (May 18).

The incident occurred at 10.52am, prompting a rapid response from the Gravesend RNLI crew, who arrived at the scene by 11.15am to assist the injured man.

Skipper Found in Agony on Yacht Foredeck

Upon arrival, Gravesend RNLI’s Thames Commander Dave Greenfield reported seeing the injured skipper lying motionless on the foredeck, in visible pain.

“He was unable to move and clearly in pain but thankfully had been cared for by his crew who raised the alarm,” Greenfield said.

The yacht had been sailing outbound on the Thames with plans to return to Greenwich when the incident took place.

Pain Relief and Evacuation to Greenwich

RNLI crew provided immediate pain relief and monitoring, before planning a safe evacuation of the casualty back to Greenwich.

“Once we arrived, we were able to do a full handover with the London Ambulance Service and their Hazardous Area Response Team (HART),” Greenfield added.

A photo shared by Gravesend RNLI shows the injured man receiving care aboard the Thames Commander rescue vessel.

RNLI Reminds Mariners to Prioritise Onboard Safety

The RNLI has not confirmed the skipper’s current condition but reiterated the importance of maintaining safety protocols aboard all vessels.