Two emergency evacuations from Lihou in just two days

It said that calls to the island were extremely rare, but the service has plans and procedures in place for such incidents.

On Thursday afternoon it was called to a medical incident while the causeway was open.

A double-crewed ambulance, an incident officer and the Land Rover ambulance were sent to the Lihou headland car park from where the Land Rover transported the ambulance crew across the causeway.

The patient, who was in the care of their family and the warden of Lihou, was assessed on scene before being taken back across the causeway then transferred to the waiting ambulance and taken to hospital.

Late on Friday night, a 999 call was received for another medical incident.

Following a telephone assessment, consultation with a doctor and the Lihou warden, a paramedic ambulance crew and ambulance incident officer were dispatched, which coincided with the falling tide and opening of the causeway.

The Land Rover ambulance and the paramedic crew crossed the causeway and met the patient at the house, where the patient was assessed before being driven back across the causeway to the waiting road ambulance. The patient went on to hospital.

‘Both operations were carried out successfully thanks to all of those involved,’ said paramedic officer Steve Torode.

‘Evacuating any patient from Lihou can be a challenge and needs careful planning and preparation. The incident on Friday had the added challenge of being during the night. Both operations involved good planning, coordination, communication and teamwork.

‘We worked closely with the Lihou warden who has a great deal of knowledge of the tides and causeway.

‘The Land Rover ambulance gives us the ability to respond to incidents that are off-road or over difficult terrain.’

Steve Sarre, warden of Lihou, added: ‘I am very pleased that both of the incidents over the last couple of days were successful, it really shows how our services are ready to react to any situation and conditions.

‘Although Lihou is not the most straightforward of place to get a patient from, we have plans we have in place and we have great communication with the services, which makes it possible to carry out.’