Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) receives a call as a diver is unwell after surfacing. Surveyors from Colchester Marine Office carry out inspections on party boats that cruise the Thames, meanwhile coastguard rescue officers at Blackpool Air Show respond to numerous incidents, including a man who has collapsed.
Winch paramedic Paul Jones said: “The beauty of the helicopter is that we can turn up at most areas and we can either winch or land and get medical care to the patient as quickly as possible. Ultimately you have got the patient to the right place.”
A 14-year-old girl with her family is struggling on Yr Wyddfa, also known as Mount Snowdon – she is breathless but doesn't have her inhaler. Coming to the rescue is an HM Coastguard helicopter which takes her to safety, and she soon recovers.
Did you know? Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors don’t just keep an eye on the big ships.
As we see in this episode, they also check smaller domestic passenger vessels around the UK, including in London where craft range from high-speed commuter services to boats for parties and tourist tours.
The terrible consequences of things going wrong was tragically shown on 20 August 1989 when 51 people died in the Marchioness disaster, involving a collision on the River Thames, near Southwark.
Take a look at current vacancies at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or find out more about becoming a volunteer coastguard rescue officer.
