RNLI Angle’s all-weather lifeboat was launched on Friday after a fisherman sustained head injuries on board a 12m vessel some 10 miles off St. Ann’s Head. Rescue helicopter 187 had also been tasked to the incident.

The Tamar class lifeboat Mark Mason rendezvoused with the fishing vessel just before 3 pm. Two crew members were put on board so they could attend to the injured fisherman until the arrival of the helicopter.

The helicopter winchman was lowered onto the lifeboat and then transferred to the fishing vessel. With the injured fisherman stable, the lifeboat manoeuvred alongside the fishing boat to recover the casualty, winchman and twocrew members.

When clear, the casualty was airlifted and taken to hospital. With no more assistance required, the lifeboat was released at 4 pm and returned to her station.

The following day (Saturday, October 17), the all-weather lifeboat was launched at 8.22 am after a 7m charter fishing vessel suffered gearbox failure nine miles off St. Ann’s Head. There were three people on board.

On arrival, and when satisfied that all was okay on board, the lifeboat rigged a tow and a course was set for Milford Haven. At the entrance to Milford Docks, the casualty was taken into an alongside tow and placed on the pontoon in the lock pits, where she was safely secured.

With all persons safe, the lifeboat was released and returned to her station to be rehoused at 12.20 pm, after nearly four hours at sea.

It was the fifth call-out in two weeks for the Mark Mason. On October 4, she launched at 4.22 pm to a report of a 7m motor boat with engine failure near Llangwm Ferry. There were four people and a dog on board.

While proceeding to the scene, it was reported that the motor boat had managed to restart her engine, but required an escort as a precaution. The lifeboat rendezvoused with the casualty at Burton and escorted her to Neyland.

Once the motor boat was safe in the Marina at 5.04 pm, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to her station.

On October 9, the lifeboat launched at 5.44 pm to escort a 7m motor boat, with two people on board, to Milford. The vessel, which was on passage from Aberystwyth to Milford, was experiencing mechanical problems near Skokholm Island.

The lifeboat used her direction finder and radar to locate the casualty. Having confirmed that all was okay on board, the vessel was escorted to the Mackerel Stage, Milford.

Once the casualty was safe alongside the pontoon, the lifeboat was released and returned to her station at 8.05 pm.

On October 11, the lifeboat launched at 6.53 pm to a report of a person in the water off Milford. On arrival, along with a police helicopter and a pilot boat, a thorough search of the area was started. With no sign of the casualty and further reports being received that a seal was sighted in the area, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to her station, where she was rehoused at 8pm.