The volunteer crew of Shoreham RNLI were called on Saturday June 21 to help a diver who had been taken ill with suspected decompression sickness while on a dive trip near Rampion Wind Farm, south of Shoreham.
At 6.10pm, Shoreham RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was launched and quickly arrived on the scene.
The diver was transferred to the lifeboat, where the crew provided medical assistance while waiting for the HM Coastguard rescue helicopter.
The casualty was then airlifted from the lifeboat and taken to hospital.
Decompression sickness, also known as "the bends", is a condition which arises when dissolved gases, typically nitrogen, form bubbles in the body due to a rapid decrease in pressure.
This most commonly occurs in divers who ascend too quickly.
These bubbles can block blood vessels and damage tissues causing joint pain, numbness, tingling, weakness and fatigue. In severe cases, DCS can affect the central nervous system, causing stroke-like symptoms or even death.
Lifeboat second coxswain Simon Tugwell said: "This was an excellent team effort by all those involved to provide swift medical assistance to the casualty.
"The crew were able to put into practice the skills they refreshed on a recent training scenario with the coastguard helicopter, and they really showed their knowledge and ability to help the casualty involved."
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