LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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The Liberian Steam Ship Archandros

SICK SEAMAN RUSHED TO HOSPITAL Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk.

At 4.3 a.m. on Sunday the 14th of July, 1963, the Gorleston coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the Liberian steam ship Archandros had a sick man on board who required urgent medical attention. The life-boat Louise Stephens was launched at 4.40 with a doctor on board. There was a gentle south-westerly wind and a slight sea. It was high water. A rendezvous had been arranged at Gorton lightvessel.

The life-boat came up with the Archandros at 5.27; the sick man had by this time collapsed. The doctor went on board and diagnosed peritonitis. The sick man was transferred to the lifeboat and taken back to Gorleston, where he was transferred to a waiting ambulance. The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 6.57. The doctor later said that the man would have died within two hours if hospital treatment had not been provided, but that he was now recovering..