West Kirby, England – West Kirby RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew responded quickly to an injured birdwatcher who had slipped on rocks at Hilbre Island on April 28.

The crew was alerted by HM Coastguard at 1:03 p.m. after reports of a person potentially suffering a dislocated shoulder. The volunteer team launched the D class lifeboat, Leonard Pownall, within 10 minutes and carefully planned the best route to reach the injured person, considering the ebbing tide.

Once on the southeast side of Hilbre Island, the crew located the man. Despite his injury, he remained calm and stable. The crew, led by volunteer Crew Member Sam Hanson, provided immediate care and transferred him onto the lifeboat.

The man was brought back to the north end of Marine Lake for a smoother transfer. With assistance from the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team, the man was safely helped out of the lifeboat and brought ashore before being taken to Arrowe Park Hospital for treatment.

After the rescue, the lifeboat was cleaned, refueled, and prepared for the next mission.

West Kirby Lifeboat Helm, Chris Gatenby, praised the teamwork between the RNLI crew and the Coastguard. He also emphasized the importance of calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard in case of an emergency.

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