An injured 56-year-old yachtsman was rescued by the Harwich RNLI crew off the Shotley peninsula on Saturday afternoon.

The individual in distress was a 56-year-old male who had been knocked over and fallen into the yacht's cockpit, rendering him unable to move.

Upon receiving the distress call at 4.36pm the volunteer crew of the ILB ' The Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid' promptly responded and reached the yacht.

The crew then undertook the task of escorting the yacht back to the lifeboat station, where further assistance could be provided. During this transit, the RNLI crew onboard the ILB, including one off-duty paramedic among them, administered initial care to the casualty.

Upon arrival at the lifeboat station, a coordinated effort was undertaken by multiple agencies to ensure the safe extraction of the casualty and his subsequent transfer to an awaiting ambulance.

The Coastguard (CG) CRT (Coastguard Rescue Team) and the East of England Ambulance Service collaborated closely with the RNLI in this operation.

Once the ambulance crew arrived on the scene, utmost care was taken to immobilise the injured individual properly before lifting him clear of the yacht.

This cautious approach was necessary to prevent any further possible harm to the casualty during the extraction process. Only after ensuring the casualty's safety and stabilisation was he carefully transferred to the ambulance for further medical attention and transport to a healthcare facility.

This operation exemplifies the significance of effective teamwork and coordination among various emergency response agencies. The successful outcome of the mission was a result of the seamless cooperation between the Harwich RNLI volunteer crew, the Coastguard, and the East of England Ambulance Service. Their collective efforts ensured that the casualty received timely and appropriate care, demonstrating their dedication to saving lives at sea.