Chiswick's RNLI Lifeboat rescues injured man from Thames foreshore

A photographer's quest to get the best picture ended in agony on Saturday when he fell and broke his ankle. He had been trying to gain access to the Thames foreshore opposite Chiswick Eyot to photograph the boats in the Women’s Head of the River Race when he fell and broke his right ankle.

Chiswick RNLI was called to the scene where crew members Kershaw and Parkin discovered the man in 'severe pain'. A doctor, who was watching the race at the time, help care for the casualty whilst the Lifeboat ferried paramedics to where he lay.

The man was placed on a spinal board, into the basket stretcher and transferred to Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat, which made the short journey to Chiswick Pier where the ambulance was waiting.

Chiswick RNLI spokesman told ChiswickW4com: “The incident was over half a mile from the nearest road access, so the use of the RNLI Lifeboat to attend to the casualty quickly, transfer the paramedics to administer powerful pain relief and then evacuate the casualty, was essential. The steep and slippery river bank would have made moving the casualty up onto the towpath very hazardous”

During the river closures that take place on the Thames during major rowing races the RNLI has two Lifeboats on the water, one stationed at each end of the river closure. This enables them to deal with any incidents up or downstream from the river closure as well as any incidents along the race course


March 21, 2011