11:34am Saturday 17th July 2010
FOUR men had to be rescued from the North Sea at Cliffe Park, Seaburn on Friday night.
Lifeboat volunteers and off duty Beach Lifeguards from Sunderland RNLI were involved in the major rescue operation which started around 6.15pm.
Coastguards requested the launch of Sunderland RNLI’s D Class Inshore Lifeboat as well as diverting a passing RAF Rescue Helicopter which was on its way to a training exercise. They were joined at the scene by several off duty RNLI beach lifeguards and Officers from Sunderland Coastguard Rescue Team.
The lifeguards arrived first at the scene to discover that the four men had been rescued from the sea by friends and passing members of the public.
"All four of the men were safely on the promenade but in need of urgent medical treatment," a spokesman said. "A request was then made for the RAF Helicopter to land on the promenade to allow the men to be taken to Hospital."
Ben Mitchell, RNLI Beach Lifeguard Supervisor said “After reaching the scene, we immediately assessed and prioritised the casualties for transfer to Hospital.
"Due to the urgency of the situation we decided to quickly clear the promenade of members of the public to create a safe area for the helicopter to land."
Three of the four casualties were then transferred into the helicopter and transferred to Newcastle General Hospital for treatment, while the forth was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital by road ambulance after being given treatment at the scene by Coastguard Officers.
Once it was confirmed that no one else was either missing or still in the water, the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was stood down from the incident.
Paul Nicholson, senior helmsman at Sunderland RNLI said “It is understood that the four men got into difficulty while swimming in the sea below Cliffe Park Lighthouse.
"All four of them had a very lucky escape as without the quick-thinking of the friends and the members of the public, this incident could have so easily ended in tragedy.
"We also hope that this incident will remind people not to interfere with Public Rescue Equipment as in this case it can be the difference between life and death. Anyone who sights anyone in difficulty in the sea or on the coast should dial 999 and ask for HM Coastguard”.
At 7.15pm when lifeboat volunteers were leaving the lifeboat station to return home, they were requested by Humber Coastguard to an incident at Seaham, where a man was threatening to drive his car over the cliffs.
The Atlantic 85 Lifeboat launched minutes later and proceeded to the scene along with Coastguard Officers from Seaham Coastguard Rescue Team.
"The lifeboat held a position about 400m offshore from Seaham Hall Car Park while Police negotiators attempted to talk the man into driving away from the cliff to safety," a spokesman said. "After two-and-a-half hours the man agreed to drive away from the cliff edge and all of the emergency services were stood down."
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