17th June 2017. NCI Cape Cornwall has often been involved in assisting HM Coastguard with emergencies but on this occasion HM Coastguard was involved with an emergency medevac from the station itself when the watchkeeper suffered a suspected heart attack while on duty.

The Cape Cornwall morning duty watchkeeper on Saturday, Phil Oldfield, began to feel unwell while on watch and contacted the afternoon watchkeeper to ask him if we would take over the watch early. When the relief watchkeeper, Roland Mannering, arrived at the watch he found Phil in a “distressed state, looking very grey and clutching his chest”. He wasted no time in calling for medical assistance via the emergency telephone. Paramedics quickly arrived to assess the situation and they decided that a helicopter evacuation of the casualty was required. The Coastguard cliff rescue team arrived, closely followed by the Coastguard Search & Rescue helicopter who lowered a member of the crew to try and find a suitable winch location, which was difficult due to the rocky terrain and the station aerials and flagpole. Eventually, by using a combination of slings, Phil was winched up to the helicopter from the front walkway of the Watch and was transferred to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. He was later confirmed to be in a stable condition.

Richard Saynor, Station Manager at NCI Cape Cornwall said “It was unusual to be the subject of an emergency medevac rather than coordinating one. Our thanks go to our colleagues in the Ambulance Service, the Cliff Rescue Team and of course to the crew of the Coastguard helicopter”.

The photograph, courtesy of Morwenna Morrison, shows the paramedics at the bottom of Cape Cornwall while the Coastguard helicopter manoeuvres to pick up the casualty.