A dramatic overnight rescue operation took place between Wednesday, August 7, and Thursday, August 8, 2024, when a sick sailor anchored in the Chausey Islands archipelago required urgent medical attention.
The Corsen regional operational surveillance and Rescue Centre (CROSS) received a distress call from the sailboat and quickly relayed the information to CROSS Jobourg. A telephone conference was then set up between the maritime medical coordination emergency services (SCMM) of Le Havre and the vessel to assess the situation.
After consulting with the ship’s crew, the regulating doctor at SCMM Le Havre recommended an immediate evacuation of the sick person by helicopter to the nearest hospital in Granville, located in the Manche department.
CROSS Jobourg promptly engaged the Dragon 50 helicopter of the Civil Security, based in Bréville-sur-Mer, and the semi-rigid boat “Père Delaby” from the Granville branch of the National Sea Rescue Society (SNSM) stationed in Chausey.
The SNSM team carried out the transfer of the sick person from the sailboat to land using the “Père Delaby” semi-rigid boat. Upon reaching land near the Chausey lighthouse, the patient was handed over to the Manche departmental fire and rescue service (SDIS), who transported them to the waiting Dragon 50 helicopter.
The helicopter then airlifted the patient to Granville Hospital, where they were admitted for further treatment.
This successful coordination between multiple rescue services highlights the effectiveness of emergency response efforts in the region, ensuring that those in need of urgent medical care receive timely assistance, even in remote locations like the Chausey Islands.
More news from United Kingdom
