Weather conditions bring dramatic Medevac for Oban Lifeboat

Oban’s RNLI  Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald, launched yesterday (25th January)  at 17.25, to assist in the evacuation of four patients from the Isle of Mull.

The CalMac ferry had made no fewer than five attempts to berth at the Craignure linkspan but, for safety reasons, this manoeuvre had to be aborted.

With conditions unsuitable for helicopter evacuation – blizzard conditions prevailed – the lifeboat was the last resort available.

The lifeboat arrived at Craignure at 18.00 but also found it impossible to berth at the linkspan.

The decision was then made to attempt the transfer the patients at the old stone pier – where  Coxswain Ronnie McKillop said that the berthing conditions were the worst he had experienced.

He says, though, that while the change of plan was unexpected, the crew adapted quickly and performed superbly in extremely difficult circumstances.

Two patients were transferred from the ambulance – then there was an anxious wait for the second ambulance as the tide was falling rapidly.

Fortunately the ambulance arrived just in time and the lifeboat departed for Oban at 18.40 where, despite an unpleasant passage, the patients were landed at 19.15 and transferred to Lorn and the Isles District General Hospital.

Throughout the service the crew were grateful that the patients were being looked after by Oban paramedic, Kenny Devine.

As with the Oban lifeboat’s customary swift efficiency, the lifeboat was refuelled and ready for further service at 19.45.