Kilkeel RNLI assist injured fisherman off County Down coast
Kilkeel RNLI helped bring a fisherman to safety yesterday evening (Tuesday 17 May) after he was injured while fishing for prawns off the County Down coast.
The inshore lifeboat helmed by Alan Henning and with three crew members onboard, launched within minutes and made its way to the scene some six nautical miles from the lifeboat station.
Weather conditions at the time were described as wet with a lot of rain and a one and half metre swell.
Once on scene, lifeboat crew member Andrew McConnell was transferred from the lifeboat on to the fishing vessel where he assessed the casualty and ensured he was wearing a sea survival suit before being moved from the trawler. The injured man was made comfortable before he was strapped and lowered down into the lifeboat where he was then transported back to Kilkeel and handed over into the care of a waiting ambulance.
Speaking following the call out, John Fisher, Kilkeel RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘There wasn’t enough water in the harbour yesterday afternoon to allow the fishing trawler make its way into Kilkeel so we were happy to assist. We would like to wish the injured man a full and speedy recovery from his ordeal.’
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