Coast Medic Ambulance provides specialist water-based and marine event medical cover across the UK primarily in the South West. We deliver regulated, ambulance-level clinical support for events taking place on, in, or adjacent to water. Our service is built on a unique blend of frontline NHS experience and maritime emergency response expertise, ensuring safe, proportionate, and professionally governed medical provision in challenging coastal environments.
Specialist Medical Cover for Marine & Coastal Environments
Water-based events present complex and dynamic risks not typically encountered at land-only venues. These include cold-water immersion, tidal conditions, restricted access, delayed statutory response times and rapidly changing weather or sea states.
Coast Medic Ambulance is specifically equipped to manage these challenges through:
- Doctor and Paramedic-led medical teams
- Shore-based treatment centres and rapid response capability
- Ambulance conveyance from remote or difficult coastal locations
- Integrated working with water safety, rescue and event management teams
Our approach prioritises early clinical intervention, on-site treatment, and safe escalation, while reducing unnecessary pressure on NHS emergency services.
Maritime & Water Safety Experience Within Our Teams
In addition to their clinical qualifications, many members of our workforce bring direct maritime operational experience, including backgrounds in:
- RNLI lifeboat crew
- Surf lifeguarding and beach rescue services
- Coastguard Search and Rescue (SAR) operations
- Offshore and inshore maritime response roles
This dual skillset allows our teams to operate confidently and safely in coastal and marine settings, with a practical understanding of water rescue interfaces, casualty recovery, and the constraints of operating in tidal or offshore environments.
Events We Commonly Support
We provide medical cover for a wide range of water-based and coastal events, including:
- Open water swimming events and endurance swims
- Gig rowing, coastal rowing and regattas
- Sailing races, yachting events, power boating and harbour activities
- Surf lifesaving competitions and beach sports
- Kayak, paddleboard, and triathlon swim stages
- Charity sea swims and community coastal events
Coverage can be scaled from single-day community events to multi-day national and international competitions.
Clinical Risks We Are Equipped to Manage
Our clinicians are trained and experienced in managing marine-specific presentations, including:
- Hypothermia and cold-water shock
- Near-drowning and aspiration injuries
- Cardiac emergencies and sudden collapse
- Traumatic injuries on rocky or tidal shorelines
- Dehydration, heat illness, and physical exhaustion
- Marine stings and environmental exposure injuries
All care is delivered within our clinical governance framework, aligned with our Scope of Practice and national pre-hospital standards.
Ambulance Boats, Ambulances & Treatment Facilities
In addition to land-based assets, Coast Medic operates an ambulance boat, enabling us to provide clinical care afloat for marine and offshore events. This capability allows patients to be assessed, treated, and stabilised directly on the water, significantly improving response times and outcomes for incidents occurring away from shore.
Depending on the event profile, we can deploy:
- An ambulance boat with trained clinical crew
- Fully equipped A&E-spec ambulances
- 4×4 ambulances for beaches, headlands, and remote access points
- Rapid response vehicles for shoreline patrol
- Temporary medical treatment centres acting as on-site stabilisation units
This integrated capability allows many patients to be safely managed on site or afloat, minimising disruption and unnecessary hospital conveyance.
Integrated Working With Water Safety & Authorities
We are experienced in operating alongside:
- RNLI and independent lifeboat services
- Surf Life Saving and water safety teams
- HM Coastguard and SAR partners
- Harbour authorities and marina operators
- Event Safety Advisory Groups (SAGs)
- Local authorities
Our medical plans are designed to integrate seamlessly into wider event safety structures, with clear command, control and communication pathways.
Medical Planning, Governance & Regulatory Assurance
As a CQC-registered ambulance service, Coast Medic Ambulance offers a high level of assurance for event organisers, insurers, and public bodies. Our service includes:
- Event-specific medical risk assessments
- Participant and crowd profiling
- Alignment with the Purple Guide and industry best practice
- Clinically governed staffing and equipment selection
- Pre-event liaison and post-event reporting
This makes us particularly suitable for higher-risk marine and coastal events, or those subject to enhanced regulatory scrutiny.
Supporting a National Coastal Medical Charity
Coast Medic Ambulance is the operational arm of Coast Medic, the national charity dedicated to improving access to emergency medical care on the water and around the UK coastline. The charity has a long-standing focus on innovation, community resilience and saving lives in coastal and maritime environments.
By choosing Coast Medic Ambulance for your event medical cover, you are not only securing a professional and regulated service, but also directly supporting our charitable mission. Income from event medical services helps fund:
- Coastal and water-based medical initiatives
- Community defibrillator programmes
- Training and preparedness projects in remote coastal areas
- The ongoing development of specialist marine medical capability
Why Choose Coast Medic Ambulance for Marine Events?
- Unique blend of clinical and maritime emergency experience
- Teams with lifeboat, lifeguarding, and coastguard SAR backgrounds
- Regulated ambulance-level care, including clinical care afloat
- Proven experience in coastal, tidal, and offshore environments
- Local knowledge of Cornwall’s coastline and access challenges
- Scalable solutions from community events to major national events
- Direct support of a nationally recognised coastal medical charity
Request Marine Event Medical Cover
If you are organising a water-based or coastal event in the UK, we would be pleased to support you with safe, compliant, and professionally governed medical cover.
Contact Coast Medic Ambulance to discuss your event, risk profile, and medical requirements, or to request a tailored quotation and medical plan.