Tyne's inflatable used to transfer sick woman through surf to lifeboat Commodore George Cooper, the RNLI's Chief of Operations, has written to congratulate Coxswain/mechanic Robert Erskine and his crew for 'a fine team effort conducted in a very professional manner' after the evacuation of an eight months-pregnant woman with severe stomach pains from Morroch Bay to Portpatrick on 15 August this year.It was not possible for an ambulance to reach the woman so the coastguard requested the assistance of Portpatrick's Tyrte class lifeboat Mary Irene Millar to transfer the woman for medical attention.

It was just before high water and a fresh westerly breeze was making the sea choppy to rough when the lifeboat left her moorings, reaching the scene at 1526.

Because of a high surf on the beach the lifeboat's small inflatable X boat was launched and the sick woman transferred by lifeboat stretcher across the beach and into the inflatable.

Three crewmen then entered the water to hold the lifeboat steady while the woman was transferred to the Tyne, which had been placed broadside on to the X boat to provide shelter. By the end of the operation, the men who brought out the X boat were up to their shoulders in heavy surf.

A paramedic also came aboard to accompany the pregnant woman, and on return to harbour the woman was transferred by ambulance to Stranraer hospital.Coxswain Erskine was understandably relieved that the crew's child delivery skills had not been tested on this occasion. And under 'Number of lives considered as rescued by the lifeboat' in his service report, honorary secretary Mr H. Harvie was pleased to respond: 'One - and a bit!'.