Lifeboat goes to rescue of injured woman on yacht
A WOMAN was rescued and taken to hospital after suffering chest injuries during a yachting accident.
The woman was sailing on a yacht that is believed to have hit part of a barrier, causing it to lurch. The woman lost her balance and fell.
She suffered chest injuries and breathing difficulties.
The yacht had three people on board and the owner radioed Solent Coastguard for assistance.
The woman was taken to shore by the lifeboat crew on Sunday morning.
Gareth Davies, helmsman on the Portsmouth lifeboat, said: 'The yacht owner's effective and timely use of the vessel's radio enabled us to quickly respond to this incident.'
Two members of the lifeboat crew boarded the yacht to assess the situation and gave the woman oxygen to help relieve her distress.
The lifeboat crew then took the woman to shore in the lifeboat and an ambulance was waiting at the Camber Docks, Old Portsmouth.
She was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham for examination.
The 34ft Oceanis 343-class vessel had been sailing through the outer boat passage of the Second World War submarine barrier, east of South Parade Pier, in a calm sea.
It is believed that the woman lost her balance on the yacht, which was thought to have hit part of the barrier.
She fell against a chart table injuring her ribs.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Portsmouth lifeboat, Atlantic 75 CSMA Frizzell, was on exercise in the Solent when the emergency call came through at 11.45am.
The lifeboat raced to the scene and arrived alongside the yacht just two minutes later.
The two remaining crew members of the yacht continued on their voyage to Chichester Harbour while the lifeboat transported the casualty to Portsmouth Harbour.
Solent Coastguard was also called on to rescue 33 university students who were in an area cut off by the tide underneath the Seven Sisters cliffs , Sussex.
The students, who were out walking were reached before the incoming tide rose too high. The alarm was raised at 4.40pm yesterday.
Some students had tried to climb the cliff.
No-one was hurt.
fran.duckettpike
@thenews.co.uk
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
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Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
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