An elderly man has been rescued by Margate RNLI lifeboat crew, RNLI lifeguards and Margate coastguard officers after he fell over and was face down in the rising tide at Margate harbour.
The man was in the southern corner of the harbour near the King’s Stairs revetment when he stumbled and fell into shallow water.
Lying face down among sand and seaweed and unable to move he was out of the immediate sight of the public but fortunately was able to contact the emergency services including HM Coastguard who tasked Margate RNLI D class lifeboat and Margate Coastguard Rescue Team.
RNLI lifeguards on Margate main beach were also tasked to search the harbour area from their Water Rescue Craft as the casualty’s location was uncertain.
A member of the lifeboat crew on shore located the man and directed others including the lifeguards to the scene. The lifeboat remained on the harbour slipway as a base point, the crew with first aid gear wading through the shallow water to the casualty’s position.
The lifeboat crew, lifeguards and coastguard officers in drysuits were able to keep the casualty’s head clear of the water while a plan was formulated to transfer him to the steps and provide casualty care and await an ambulance.
The casualty was handed into the care of South East Coast Ambulance Service and after assessment on scene was released without requiring hospital attention. The rescue units were stood down and returned to station.
Christian Wright, Launch Authority, Margate RNLI said: “It was fortunate that this gent was able to raise the alarm himself as his location was out of immediate sight of anyone else, without his mobile phone the story could have had a different ending.”
