A RESCUE operation was initiated off the Pembrokeshire coast after a NATO warship, located approximately 25 miles from St Ann’s Head, transmitted an urgent plea for help.

The distress call was sent on the morning of Tuesday, October 17, following an onboard incident where a crew member sustained what is believed to be severe spinal injuries.

A representative from the Angle all-weather lifeboat crew remarked, “We were alerted shortly after 8 a.m., requesting our assistance for the medical evacuation of the injured crew member with the suspected spinal injuries.”

The injured individual was aboard the NATO frigate, positioned roughly 25 miles west of St Ann’s Head.

As reported by the Western Telegraph: “Upon launching our lifeboat and reaching the scene, we learned that the ship’s medical team, along with an onboard doctor, were attending to the injured crew member. They deduced that a helicopter evacuation would be the most effective and safest method, considering the nature of his injuries.”

Consequently, the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R187 was promptly notified.

The spokesperson for the Angle lifeboat added, “Given the helicopter’s estimated 40-minute arrival time, we opted to accompany the frigate to St Brides Bay, where conditions would be more conducive for the helicopter to touch down on the ship’s flight deck. As we navigated north of Skomer Island and with the helicopter now present and secured on the flight deck, the onboard paramedics commenced their assessment and began the evacuation procedure, with our lifeboat team on standby.”

Following the successful extraction, the injured crew member was airlifted to a nearby hospital for advanced medical care.