Diver taken to hospital after getting into difficulty off Roker Pier

Volunteers from Sunderland’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) were called at around 4.30pm on Sunday, February 28, to reports of a person in difficulty just off Roker Pier.

It is understood that a recreational diver had encountered difficulties while in the water, prompting the RNLI to quickly launch their Atlantic 85 lifeboat from the Marine Activity Centre in Roker.

When crews arrived at the scene of the incident, the diver was found conscious onboard of their diving boat and volunteers transferred the casualty of the lifeboat to conduct an initial medical assessment.

Once back ashore, RNLI crews passed the casualty into the care of paramedics and they were then taken to hospital.

A RNLI spokesperson said: “Our volunteers were paged by UK Coastguard to reports of a person in difficulty in the water.

“The crew arrived at the station and quickly launched our Atlantic 85 lifeboat. The casualty was a recreational diver who had encountered difficulties whilst diving outside of Roker Pier.

"When our crew arrived at their location the diver was conscious onboard the dive boat.

“Our volunteers transferred the casualty to the lifeboat to conduct an initial medical assessment and upon arrival back at Sunderland Marina, the casualty was transferred into the care of paramedics and taken to hospital."

Members of the public are reminded that they should call 999 for any coastal emergency.

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