Burnham-On-Sea RNLI lifeboat crews were called out on Wednesday evening (August 16th) to carry out a medical evacuation next to the jetty under construction at Hinkley Point power station.
The crewmembers were paged by the Coastguard at 5.17pm and tasked to carry out the evacuation of a person who had suffered head injuries following a fall while working from a vessel near to Hinkley.
The person “had fallen, hit their head and landed in the sea”, said the RNLI.
Our photos show the lifeboat crews next to the under-construction Hinkley Point jetty during Wednesday’s incident.
Burnham’s B-Class lifeboat Staines Whitfield was tasked to assist, followed shortly afterwards by the D-Class boat, Burnham Reach.
The Barry Dock all-weather lifeboat was also called out since it was uncertain where the casualty would be taken due to the falling tide.
“On arrival at the scene the casualty was rescued by crews from the B-Class lifeboat while the D-Class and ALB stood by,” said am RNLI spokesperson.
“It was decided that the casualty should be taken to Burnham-On-Sea via the B Class to a waiting ambulance crew.”
Helmsman Nick Edrich added: “The person was extremely relieved to receive lifeboat assistance.”
“Given the height of the fall he was very lucky that the injury wasn’t as serious as first thought.”
“He was also dressed in full safety equipment including a lifejacket which without doubt avoided what could have been a very different outcome.”
Coastguards waited on Burnham-On-Sea jetty for the lifeboats to return with the injured man from the Hinkley Point area.
The Hinkley jetty extends out into the Bristol Channel from the Hinkley Point C development.
