Diver taken to hospital after being saved off the coast near Porthcurno
Penlee Lifeboat Station say they were showing signs of decompression sickness
Last updated 23rd Jun 2023
A diver has been rescued off the coast near Porthcurno.
The crew of Penlee RNLI's All Weather Lifeboat 'Ivan Ellen' launched at around 5.40pm yesterday evening (Thursday 22 June), after receiving the request from Falmouth Coastguard.
Teams say the diver was showing signs of decompression sickness, also known as 'the bends'.
They received medical care before being airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth for further treatment.
Penlee Lifeboat Station said: "At 17:40 this evening Penlee Lifeboat Station received a tasking request from Falmouth Coastguard.
"Information was passed to the launching authority that a diver was suffering from the bends on board a 42ft dive vessel and required medical assistance south of Porthcurno.
"Penlee All Weather Lifeboat ‘Ivan Ellen’ with 7 crew on board under the command of Coxswain Patch Harvey launched immediately.
"The dive vessel was heading towards Newlyn at 16 knots, roughly 1 mile south of Lamorna, Penlee Lifeboat manoeuvred alongside the dive vessel and transferred 2 cas care crew members to assess the casualty.
"After an assessment it was confirmed that the diver was showing signs of the bends and an ambulance was requested, the 2 crew members continued to give cas care and stayed on board the vessel which followed Penlee Lifeboat to Newlyn Harbour.
"Once alongside the pontoon the diver was transferred to the lifeboat, after another assessment by the Ambulance Paramedic’s it was decided that the diver would need to be taken to the dive medical centre at Derriford Hospital Plymouth for further treatment.
"At 19:20 Rescue 924 Coastguard Search and Rescue was tasked, the diver was taken by Ambulance to Penzance Heliport, transferred to the Helicopter and flown to Derriford.
"At 19:30 Penlee Lifeboat was washed down re-fuelled and made ready for service. We wish the diver a full recovery."