At 5.10 p.m. on 9th February, 1965, a doctor informed the honorary secretary that a patient on the Isle of Eday required hospital treatment and no other boat being available requested the use of the life-boat. At 5.30 the life-boat The John Gellatly Hyndman proceeded to Eday to pick up the patient and a nurse. There was a strong north-westerly breeze and a rough sea. The tide was ebbing. The sick man and nurse were landed at Kirkwall at 8 o'clock and the life-boat awaited the return of the nurse who was to be conveyed back to Eday. The life-boat eventually returned to her station at 11.40 p.m..