Boom causes serious injury - sailor airlifted
by Sail-World Cruising on 18 Jun 2013
Any boom could be lethal if it swings in even light breeze SW
Yet another serious head injury has been reported to a sailor off the Isle of Wight this week, caused by a swinging boom in high seas, while her only other crew member was later treated for shock.
County Press reported that Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat was scrambled to rescue the 52-year-old yachtswoman who suffered a serious head injury aboard a short-handed yacht in high winds and heavy seas.
The yacht Blue Boat, with two crew on board, was in trouble in gale force winds when the lifeboat, the Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer), came to its aid. The injured crew member had suffered head injuries after she was hit by the boom.
The lifeboat located the yacht in the Solent near Salt Mead, to the west of Cowes, and put a crew member aboard to perform first aid pending the arrival of the coastguard helicopter.
The helicopter then transferred a paramedic to the yacht. After assessment the crew member was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital where, on Monday, her condition was said to be stable.
Blue Boat was then escorted to Cowes by the lifeboat where the other crew member was treated for shock by an ambulance team.
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