Yacht skipper suffers suspected broken ribs after nasty fall through deck hatch on the Thames
Skipper Found Helpless on Yacht Foredeck
A yacht skipper was left writhing in pain after plunging through a deck hatch on the River Thames near Dartford on Sunday morning (May 18).
The accident happened at 10.52am, swiftly bringing the Gravesend RNLI crew rushing to the scene. They arrived by 11.15am to aid the injured man.
Thames Commander Dave Greenfield of Gravesend RNLI described finding the skipper motionless on the foredeck, clearly in agony.
“He was unable to move and clearly in pain but thankfully had been cared for by his crew who raised the alarm,” Greenfield said.
The yacht had been sailing outbound on the Thames, heading back to Greenwich when disaster struck.
Swift Pain Relief and Safe Evacuation
The RNLI team jumped into action, providing immediate pain relief and constant monitoring for the skipper.
Plans were made for a safe evacuation back to Greenwich, where the casualty could receive further medical attention.
“Once we arrived, we could hand him over to the 1 and their Hazardous Area Response Team (HART),” Greenfield added.
A photo released by Gravesend RNLI shows the skipper receiving care aboard the Thames Commander rescue vessel.
RNLI Urges All Mariners to Prioritise Safety
While the RNLI has yet to confirm the skipper’s current condition, they emphasize the vital importance of strict safety measures on all vessels to prevent such accidents.
