Injured seaman rescued Eastbourne lifeboat was alerted on 3 March 2000 when a boat worker, aboard a cargo vessel bound for Equador, was forced to head inland for emergency surgery in a bid to save his fingers.

The Polish worker was involved in an accident aboard the UB Prince when she was some 15 miles from Beachy Head, en route from Bremerhaven in Germany. Because of the considerable swell, the ship lurched from side to side causing a water-tight steel door to swing shut on the casualty's hand, trapping his fingers.

Eastbourne's Mersey class lifeboat, The Royal Thames, arranged a rendezvous point with the captain of the UB Prince and came alongside to pick up the injured crewman. However, the lifeboat was rising on swells and taking water on deck so it was decided to reposition to give extra lee. Following this manoeuvre, the casualty was strapped into a harness and was carefully lowered down and snatched onto the lifeboat.

The casualty was taken into the lifeboat wheelhouse where he was treated by the lifeboat honorary medical advisor, who put his arm in a sling and kept a watchful eye until he was landed and transferred to an ambulance.

The extent of the patients injuries were deemed serious enough to warrant immediate referral to the specialist burns and plastic surgery unit at east Grinstead..