Person airlifted to hospital with leg injury prompting multi-agency response from North Berwick RNLI

A person has been airlifted to hospital after sustaining a leg injury in deep waters around East Lothian.

North Berwick RNLI volunteers were alerted to the casualty in the water off Gullane Point on Thursday around 6.23pm.

The lifeboat joined a multi-agency search and rescue operation after the person was reported in the water with a leg injury six nautical miles to the west of the station.

The alert came as North Berwick volunteers had gathered to celebrate 200 years since the founding of the charity along with crews around the coast.

The lifeboat was first on the scene and located the casualty with assistance from a member of the public who waved them down.

The casualty was being supported by their friend who, along with the member of the public had assisted the casualty into the shallows.

Despite suffering an injury to their leg, the casualty had been able to get themselves into a position where rescue crews were able to access them.

The crew started casualty care before Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance arrived and took over.

The lifeboat crew also assisted paramedics with the treatment and transport of the casualty along with members of North Berwick, Dunbar and Fisherrow Coastguard Rescue Teams and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The casualty was transported to hospital by air ambulance and the lifeboat returned to station at 8.10pm

Rhona Meikle, helm of North Berwick lifeboat said: “Thankfully the casualty had managed to get themselves out of immediate danger before we arrived, we’d like to thank the casualty’s friend and member of the public who assisted in getting the casualty to safety.

“They also did the right thing in calling for help immediately after the incident occurred meaning rescue assets arrived in quick succession.

She added: “Our crew were able to put their casualty care to good use, stabilising the casualty before handing over to the Air Ambulance paramedics.”

“The launch gave our non-operational volunteers a chance to experience the side of the RNLI that their fundraising and shop volunteering hours help fund. Without them, and the support from members of the public we wouldn’t be able to launch to save lives at sea.

“In any coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard who will coordinate a response, deciding on the best rescue assets for the situation.”