A lifeboat was deployed yesterday in order to evacuate a sick passenger from a cruise ship.
The Donaghadee RNLI were requested by the Belfast Coastguard to assist with the evacuation of a female casualty at 6.05pm on Friday, September 17.
The all-weather lifeboat and its crew arrived on the scene at 6.40pm, and worked with the ship's doctor before transferring the patient onboard and administering further treatment.
The female was then taken to Bangor Marina and transferred to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
An RNLI spokesperson said: "The volunteer crew were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch their all-weather lifeboat Saxon at 6.05pm and go to the aid of the female casualty.
"The lifeboat launched within minutes at 6.12pm under Coxswain Philip McNamara and seven crew members onboard.
"Weather conditions at the time were dull and cloudy with slight rain, a north easterly Force 3 wind and calm seas.
"Arriving on scene at 6.40pm, the lifeboat crew liaised with the ship and the ship’s doctor on the condition of the casualty before transferring the patient onto the lifeboat and administering casualty care.
"The lifeboat proceeded to bring the casualty and an another passenger safely to shore at Bangor marina where the woman was subsequently transferred into the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service."
Speaking following the call out, Donaghadee RNLI Coxswain Philip McNamara said: ‘We were glad to be able to help tonight and would like to wish the casualty a speedy recovery. I would also like to commend our volunteer crew who turned out so quickly in numbers this evening ensuring we could get our help to the casualty as soon as we could.’
