Watch Whitby RNLI’s volunteer crew join forces with the HM Coastguard helicopter for a training exercise to prepare for lifesaving medical evacuations at sea.

It was a training session with a difference last week for Whitby RNLI. Every Wednesday the volunteer crew undertake training, either theory inside the station, or out on their two lifeboats. Last week they were joined at sea by the HM Coastguard helicopter. The training session prepared crew for rescues where a casualty may need a medical evacuation by helicopter.

This could be an injured fisherman, a person who has been taken ill aboard a vessel, or someone who has got into difficulty in the water and needs urgent care.

The session involved the Coastguard winch man being lowered from the helicopter onto Whitby's Shannon class all-weather lifeboat.

Whitby RNLI’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat takes part in a training exercise with the HM Coastguard helicopter, practising winch operations for medical evacuations at sea. Photo credit: Whitby RNLI.

placeholder image — Whitby RNLI’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat takes part in a training exercise with the HM Coastguard helicopter, practising winch operations for medical evacuations at sea. Photo credit: Whitby RNLI.

Training co-ordinator Matt Sharpe said: “It is always useful for our crew to take part in multi-agency training exercises to prepare them for all eventualities at sea.

"The exercise involves boat-handling skills and communications between the RNLI and Coastguard.”