In another busy day for the volunteer crew of Exmouth RNLI, we were tasked at 13:59hrs on Tuesday 28 July, to a gentleman who had fallen from the cliff path near Otter Cove between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton.
Launching into a gentle onshore breeze and slight seas, the crew of three aboard our inshore lifeboat, George Bearman II, made swift passage to the location. On arrival, the Exmouth RNLI crew could not see the casualty from sea level, but remained in attendance as part of a co-ordinated, multi-agency agency response, alongside our colleagues from Exmouth Coastguard Rescue Team, Beer Coastguard Rescue Team, Devon Air Ambulance and South Western Ambulance NHS trust.
The casualty, believed to have sustained a broken ankle, was airlifted to hospital and the Exmouth RNLI volunteers returned to the station to wash down the lifeboat and re-fuel.
On this occasion the casualty was able to contact his daughter by phone and she raised the alarm with the coastguard. We would always advise carrying a means of communication when at the coast, whether on land or on the water, so that you can call for help in case of an emergency.