Scarborough – Scarborough RNLI’s volunteer crew were tasked by HM Coastguard on Wednesday evening to extract an injured angler stranded on rocks at Holbeck, south of Scarborough.

The Inshore Lifeboat John Wesley Hillard IV was paged at 19:05 on 15 October 2025 after HM Coastguard had assessed and stabilised the casualty’s leg injury.

With land access limited by the difficult terrain, a sea evacuation was judged the safest way to reduce further risk.

The lifeboat launched shortly after low tide as the flood tide began. Weather was relatively favourable with a clear sky and fair sea state, although a moderate inshore swell complicated the operation.

Crew transferred the casualty to Scarborough Lifeboat Station where ambulance teams carried out an initial check. A family member then took the injured person to Scarborough Hospital for further assessment.

“We launched swiftly with a crew of four. HM Coastguard had done an excellent job stabilising the casualty — we just needed to get them home. Conditions were challenging, but teamwork and training made all the difference.”

RNLI advice noted that angling is popular but requires preparation. Between 2019 and 2024, 41 anglers lost their lives while fishing around the UK coast. Experts say many of those deaths might have been prevented if lifejackets had been worn.

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