A busy June, July and August for the wholly voluntary RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat attending some thirty six incidents in the Firth of Forth. These ranged from treating casualties to rescuing sailors and their vessels in difficulty.
In July a young boy from Fife fell and split open his chin while on a cruise on “The Maid of the Forth”. The crew took him aboard the Lifeboat, made him comfortable returned him and parents to the Hawes Pier, South Queensferry, where an ambulance took him to hospital for treatment.
On the same day a 28ft. motor cruiser suffered engine failure off Inchcolm Island with two people and a dog aboard. The RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat took her in tow and returned them safely to Port Edgar Marina.
Two men aboard their yacht “Tay Rival” also suffered engine failure and they were safely towed in to Aberdour Harbour.
In August a crew member aboard a crane barge “Atlas” under tow to Burntisland took ill and collapsed and the RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat was called out and the crew took the casualty aboard the Lifeboat where the crew administered first aid and oxygen before treatment ashore by the paramedics and further treatment in hospital.
Six people aboard a 40 feet yacht “Moonstruck” had cause to be grateful to the RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat after their yacht ran aground on the Society Bank. They were taken safely aboard the Lifeboat and on the incoming tide towed her off the bank and returned her safely to Port Edgar Marina.
As well as rescuing sailors and their craft nineteen people, a dog and a bicycle were evacuated from Cramond Island after being stranded by the fast incoming tide.
The bank holiday weekend proved particularly demanding starting with a Polish lady who had to be rescued from Cramond Island. On returning to the station the crew were hailed by the skipper of an 18ft. yacht “Zemmery Fid” which had suffered engine failure and was becalmed near Hound Point. The crew secured a line and towed her safely back to Blackness.
The same weekend a Westerley Seahawk yacht “Sardilou” based in Anstruther with four sailors aboard was sailing from Aberdour in heavy seas and 30knot winds off Inchcolm Island when she was hit by a really strong gust of wind which swept her on to the Meadulse Rocks where she was buffeted by the strong winds and heavy seas. The RNLI Lifeboat crew rushed to the scene and in very testing conditions managed to evacuated the two men and women from the yacht and took them to the RNLI Queensferry lifeboat Station where they gratefully received hot drinks. The crew returned to the yacht, which was high and dry on the rocks and secured her with an anchor and lines fore and aft. The crew took the skipper and a crew member back to the yacht on the incoming tide and safely towed her off the rocks. Safely clear, the skipper was able to start her engines and was escorted to Port Edgar where she was surveyed for any damage.
RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat Operations manager Tom Robertson and his dedicated voluntary team of lifeboatmen and women are proud of their efforts in saving lives at sea.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
