Guernsey’s emergency services have a demonstrated good multi-agency response to an inicident involving a vehicle over a cliff at Jerbourg Point in St Martins.
Police officers who were first on scene made their way down the cliff path to give immediate first aid before the arrival of paramedics. Multiple ambulance resources, including a paramedic double crewed ambulance and an operational commander were deployed to the incident.The ambulance crew gained access to the casualty with the assistance of Guernsey Police and Fire and Rescue Service. The person was given initial care and treatment at the scene before the volunteer cliff rescue team assisted with the safe extrication of the casualty to the cliff top. The patient was then transferred by ambulance to hospital.
This was a complex incident in a challenging environment, but the emergency services demonstrated a good multi-agency approach with all agencies following the JESIP principals of joint working, with operational commanders co-locating to ensure communication, coordination and a joint understanding of risk.
In additon to the police, fire and ambulance services, the Guernsey Civil Protection volunteers were in attendance to assist with traffic management and scene control. Guernsey Coastguard and a drone pilot also responded to the incident. Although the ambulance service regularly works with police and fire colleagues, incidents like this are less common, but we train for all eventualities.
Guernsey’s ambulance service was called to Lihou Island on Thursday for an injured patient requiring assistance.
A doubled crewed ambulance was dispatched to the Lihou headland just after one o’clock, with an incident officer deployed in the ambulance Land Rover shortly afterwards. The first crew on scene made their way on foot to the patient, who was on the causeway and was in the care of the warden of Lihou House, who is a trained first aider.
The patient was assessed and treated by paramedics and transported back to Guernsey in the Land Rover before being transferred to a waiting ambulance and conveyed to the Emergency Department at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
This was one of 25 cases for Ambulance and Rescue in a 24 hour period, with 17 of those cases occurring between midday and seven o’clock on Thursday evening.
The Flying Christine III is back on the water and back to operational duties following Phase 1 of an extensive refit.
The Flying Christine III is a purpose-built marine ambulance, originally constructed in 1994 with a 30 year design life, but following boat surveys and operational reviews the board of St John Ambulance and Rescue Service decided to extend the life of the vessel by investing in a programme of improvements.
The two phase project will help to ensure the boat can continue to provide a lifeline service for the Bailiwick and meet operational needs of the service for another 10 years. Work includes repainting and cleaning, removal and serving of the engine, upgrading the mechanics and electrics, improvements to the deck hatches, updating clinical area and enhanced infection control standards. Phase 2 is scheduled to start at the end of 2024.
Under existing contingency plans, while the Flying Christine was out of the water the ambulance service was able to use the St Peter Port lifeboat and the Access Challenger as relief vessels to transport medical teams to the other islands and transfer patients back to Guernsey. We would like to thank the RNLI, the crew of the St Peter Port lifeboat, and the owners of the Access Challenger for their support during this time.
Before going back into service ambulance crews and volunteers undertook a thorough deep clean of the vessel, including the treatment area and the outside of the boat.
The ‘Flying Christine III’ returned to operational duty last week following a mechanical failure. The St John marine ambulance has been out of the water since January, when a fault was discovered with the gearbox during routine maintenance.
Repairs were delayed while a replacement part was sourced from manufacturers in the USA and shipped to Guernsey, which was hindered by the global supply chain crisis. During this time St John has taken the opportunity to complete a number of other servicing tasks and upgrades, including work on the vessel’s electronics and cosmetics.
The Flying Christine has undergone extensive sea trials in local waters in readiness to return to service. Sea trials were completed last week with no issues reported and the vessel was back on call at St Peter Port harbour on Friday. During the past two weeks the Flying Christine has also been deep cleaned and restocked with medical equipment and supplies.Under existing and previously used contingency plans a number of relief vessels have been made available to ensure the ambulance service has been able to respond to urgent and emergency cases in the other islands of the Bailiwick over the past few months.
The RNLI St Peter Port Lifeboat, Brecqhou Chief, Access Challenger and the Pilot boat have all been deployed with ambulance crews onboard for various medical and trauma cases.
Since February St John Ambulance & Rescue Service has been deployed on a total of 31 marine missions. 21 to Sark, 8 to Herm and 2 to visiting cruise ships.
The RNLI St Peter Port Life boat has responded to 24 of those incidents, most of which were Category 1 or 2 medical emergencies.
The Brecqhou Chief has been deployed on 4 occasions, Access Challenger has been deployed twice and the pilot boat used once. These were for less urgent medical cases. Stuart Malley, Operations Lead at St John Ambulance & Rescue Service (SJARS) said: “I would like to thank the volunteers from the St Peter Port Lifeboat and the crews of the Brecqhou Chief, Access Challenger and the pilot boat who have all helped St John maintain lifeline medical cover for the other islands. They have responded to emergencies around the clock, leaving their jobs and their families, often in the middle of the night to assist us. I would also like to thank the volunteers who crew of the Flying Christine, that have given many additional hours working behind the scenes to prepare the vessel for a return to duty.”
SJARS Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mapp added: “I would also like to thank the crews of the relief vessels, as well the St Peter Port lifeboat management and other the boat owners for their support and assistance over the past few months, which has allowed us to continue to provide an essential emergency service for the Bailiwick. After extensive delays, which have been beyond our control I am pleased that the Flying Christine is back in operation as a dedicated, purpose built marine ambulance which has a devoted clinical area and inbuilt medical equipment, designed to enhance patient care and the patient experience.”
The Flying Christine III was originally built thanks to public donations and sponsorship and was launched in 1994 by the Duke of Gloucester, with a design life of 30 years.
Mr Mapp added: “The recent work on the Flying Christine will help extend her operational life, however as we look to the long term, we are continuing to evaluate the most cost-effective way of extending her design life further with additional resilience being built-in.”
The Flying Christine III is the third in a succession of St John marine ambulances dating back to 1952. The current vessel is operated by expert volunteers and crewed by professional paramedic-led medical teams from Guernsey’s emergency ambulance service, providing pre-hospital paramedic care and the ability to deliver advanced life support for the islands of the Bailiwick.
The St John marine ambulance, Flying Christine III, is expected to remain out of service for at least the next six weeks, following the discovery of a gearbox failure during a recent survey carried out while the vessel was undergoing routine annual maintenance.
The purpose-built vessel, which was constructed with donations and funding from the public was launched in 1994, with a design life of 30 years and has now been in operation for 29 years.
St John Ambulance and Rescue Service has now ordered replacement bespoke parts, which are being specially manufactured, with an expected lead time of six weeks.
We are continuing to work closely with our partners to ensure that other vessels in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, can provide cover while the marine ambulance undergoes repairs and we will continue to provide essential emergency services to the Bailiwick islands with the support of those partners.
The marine ambulance is crewed by professional paramedic-led medical teams from Guernsey’s emergency ambulance service, providing pre-hospital paramedic care and the ability to deliver advanced life support for the islands of the Bailiwick.
The St Peter Port lifeboat has been deployed on eight marine ambulance missions since the Flying Christine III was taken out of the water for reparirs earlier this year.
Click below for previous news about the work on the Flying Christine III
Police officers who were first on scene made their way down the cliff path to give immediate first aid before the arrival of paramedics. Multiple ambulance resources, including a paramedic double crewed ambulance and an operational commander were deployed to the incident.
The ambulance crew gained access to the casualty with the assistance of Guernsey Police and Fire and Rescue Service. The person was given initial care and treatment at the scene before the volunteer cliff rescue team assisted with the safe extrication of the casualty to the cliff top. The patient was then transferred by ambulance to hospital.
Under existing and previously used contingency plans a number of relief vessels have been made available to ensure the ambulance service has been able to respond to urgent and emergency cases in the other islands of the Bailiwick over the past few months.
Stuart Malley, Operations Lead at St John Ambulance & Rescue Service (SJARS) said: “I would like to thank the volunteers from the St Peter Port Lifeboat and the crews of the Brecqhou Chief, Access Challenger and the pilot boat who have all helped St John maintain lifeline medical cover for the other islands. They have responded to emergencies around the clock, leaving their jobs and their families, often in the middle of the night to assist us. I would also like to thank the volunteers who crew of the Flying Christine, that have given many additional hours working behind the scenes to prepare the vessel for a return to duty.”
