Solent lifeboat rescue to feature on BBC1 show this morning

Rescuers from a lifeboat station who helped airlift a seriously ill woman to hospital will feature on a BBC1 show this morning.
Picture: Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue ServicePicture: Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service
Picture: Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service

Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service’s (GAFIRS) operation to help the Coastguard airlift a woman off Spitbank Fort over last year’s August bank holiday weekend will be broadcast on the Close Calls on Camera show.

The BBC used footage filmed by a crewman when they were called to help the woman who had slipped and seriously injured her skull.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter based at Lee-on-the-Solent was scrambled and the paramedic winchman lowered onto the luxury hotel to give emergency care to the patient.

Picture: Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue ServicePicture: Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service
Picture: Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service

GAFIRS spokesman James Baggott said: ‘Our crews were placed on the fort by Gosport lifeboat to help the Coastguard airlift the seriously injured woman into the helicopter and to hospital.

‘Fortunately she made a full recovery from her head injury and when she visited the station she agreed to GAFIRS releasing the footage to the BBC to help highlight the vital work an independent lifeboat station like ours does in the Solent to help save lives.

‘Viewers will see first hand on the television show the care our volunteer crews give to injured people at sea.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The show, which airs at 11.45am, is presented by Nick Knowles and produced by Hampshire-based production company, Topical Television.

The show will be available for seven days on BBC iPlayer after broadcast.