Lifeboat crew rescue person in difficulties in sea near Clacton Pier
It happened on Thursday afternoon
A lifeboat crew has rescued a person who was in difficulties in the sea around Clacton Pier.
It happened on Thursday (6 May) at just after 4pm.
There was also a Mayday call from a fishing vessel that was taking on water minutes before.
The lifeboat reportedly "raced" to the scene of the person in difficulty and found the casualty floating on their back and lifeless, approximately 100 meters from the shoreline.
The crew positioned the lifeboat alongside the casualty and got the person into the boat, who was unconscious and not breathing.
Essex Ambulance Service and police were in attendance on the beach, and so the crew wrapped the casualty in blankets to prevent hyperthermia and transferred them to the waiting paramedics.
The paramedics assisted the casualties’ breathing by using a breathing tube and bag.
They started to breath again but remained unconscious.
The casualty was taken to Colchester general hospital for further treatment.
A spokesperson for the Clacton crew said:
"We are pleased that our volunteer crew were able to be on the scene quickly to recover the casualty, and transfer them to the care of the local paramedics, who were able to get the casualty breathing again, and we hope they make a speedy recovery.
"It is without doubt that our fast launch and arrival on the scene was a key contributing factor in the preservation of the casualties life, as was the support from all the agencies involved on scene.
"Whilst Clacton Pier is a fantastic place to enjoy our coast in Essex, we want to warn everyone to the dangers in and around the pier.
"In addition to the fast, strong currents and submerged hazards in the water we would urge everyone to stay safe on and around the pier."
Meanwhile the Altantic 85 found the vessel that was reported to be taking on water, located one mile North of North Eagle.
The four occupants had managed to bail out all of the water taken aboard, and restarted their engine.
The vessel was escorted one mile East of the NAS beacon and was left to continue its onward journey.