Hartlepool, United Kingdom - July 21, 2025 Early Monday morning on July 21, Hartlepool RNLI volunteers responded to a serious injury aboard a chemical tanker anchored two miles off Sunderland. At 12:36 a.m., Humber Coastguard alerted Hartlepool RNLI of a crew member suffering a severe hand injury. The all-weather lifeboat John Sharp launched at 1:00 a.m. and arrived alongside the tanker by 1:40 a.m. Two RNLI crew members boarded the vessel to provide immediate care to the injured man. Meanwhile, a Coastguard helicopter from Humberside joined the operation, winching a paramedic onto the tanker for a detailed examination. Following the assessment, the casualty was carefully winched up to the helicopter and swiftly transported to hospital for further treatment. Steve Pounder, Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat operations manager, praised the team’s swift and professional response, highlighting their dedication despite limited rest. The lifeboat returned to station by 3:25 a.m. and was quickly readied for service again.