The UK Coastguard deployed the Selsey all-weather lifeboat to assist the 6,000-ton chemical tanker Ellen Essberger after a crew member experienced severe chest pains requiring urgent medical evacuation. The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday, 16 February, following several hours of distress onboard.
The Denise and Eric, a Shannon class lifeboat, was launched at 6.40pm and reached a rendezvous point approximately 10 miles off the coast of Selsey by 7.07pm. Weather conditions were relatively calm, with a southerly force 3 wind and slight seas.
At 7.22pm, two lifeboat crew members, including a paramedic, boarded the tanker to assess the patient. The paramedic suspected the Filipino crewman was experiencing a heart attack. Due to the patient’s critical condition, a stretcher transfer to the lifeboat was considered too risky.
Rescue 175 helicopter arrived on scene at 8.17pm and attempted to winch down the paramedic for 20 minutes without success. The winchman was eventually lowered via hi-line transfer at 8.42pm. After refueling, the helicopter returned to the tanker to provide further assistance.
Shortly after reassessment by the paramedic, the crewman suffered a violent seizure and became unresponsive. The winchman reported the patient’s condition had worsened, describing it as critical and highly agitated, which made helicopter evacuation impossible. Both paramedics suspected a major neurological event. Consequently, Rescue 175 returned to base, leaving the winchman aboard the tanker.
The tanker was then guided by a pilot into the Solent, stopping south of Portsmouth Harbour. At 11.50pm, the lifeboat took on the casualty, the winchman, and two crew members from the stern using the ship’s companion ladder. The Denise and Eric proceeded to Camber docks in Portsmouth Harbour.
An ambulance was waiting on arrival, and the patient was transferred to hospital at 12.15am on Sunday. The winchman returned to base accompanied by local Coastguard officers. The lifeboat departed Camber dock at 12.41am and arrived back at Selsey by 1.53am. The crew then cleaned, refueled, and prepared the lifeboat for duty by 2.50am.
The lifeboat crew involved in this operation included Coxswain Martin Rudwick, Mechanic Geoff Mellett, Crew Members Max Gilligan, Will Moir, James Albrey, and Trainee Terry Healey. Their swift response and coordinated teamwork with the helicopter crew were vital in managing this critical medical emergency at sea.
Originally published by UKNIP.
