One last rescue, then a sunset goodbye for Bude Coastguard’s Lotte

A team photo in front of a burning orange sunset is not how most shifts end for a Coastguard Rescue Team. But that is exactly how yesterday evening finished for Bude Coastguard Rescue Team, after a long walk with a stretcher and one final job together for a colleague who would not be putting the uniform on again.

A shout on the Devon border

Monday 31 August had already been a busy one for the team. Rescue Officers spent the day at Bude Lifeboat Day, meeting members of the public and talking them through what the Coastguard actually does. Then, at 18:35, the pagers went off for real. This was call out number 40 for the team, and it sent them out to support Hartland Coastguard Rescue Team with a casualty who had broken their leg while walking a footpath close to Welcombe Beach, just over the county line in Devon.

Cornwall Air Ambulance was also tasked to the scene. Bude’s Rescue Officers arrived just as the helicopter touched down, and made their way to the casualty to liaise with the Officer-in-Charge, the Hartland team already on scene, and the Air Ambulance’s critical care crew.

A careful stretcher carry

With the casualty in significant pain, the decision was made to sedate them before they could be moved. Once that had taken effect, Rescue Officers carefully placed them onto a stretcher. Getting them off the footpath was the hard part. The route out was challenging enough that the team had to switch between a variety of carry techniques to get the casualty safely to a waiting land ambulance.

A quiet goodbye for Bude 04

As the Bude team were stood down from the incident, there was just enough time and just enough light left to gather for a photo, the group lit up by the last of the sunset over the water. The picture marks the final shout for Coastguard Rescue Officer Bude 04, known to the team as Lotte, pictured centre front row, on her last day of service for HM Coastguard.

Bude Coastguard Rescue Team thanked her for her dedication to the team and her selfless commitment to saving lives and helping those in need along the coast. She will be sorely missed.

📷Credit: Bude Coastguard Rescue Team