Baltimore RNLI provides medical evacuation from Cape Clear Island

The volunteer lifeboat crew was tasked to launch their all-weather lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 10.11pm to provide medical assistance and evacuation to a student who received an injury after a fall.

Once on scene, three of the volunteer crew went ashore and were brought by minibus to the casualty. There they administered casualty care before transferring the injured girl back to the all-weather lifeboat. The lifeboat then returned to Baltimore lifeboat station at 11.40pm and handed the casualty over to the care of HSE Ambulance crew who were waiting at the station. Conditions at sea during the shout were calm with a westerly force 3-4 wind and 1m sea swell.

There were seven volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Kieran Cotter, Mechanic Brian McSweeney and crew members Jerry Smith, Pat Collins, Diarmuid Collins, Jim Griffiths and Ryan O’Mahony. Micheal Cottrell, Rianne Smith, Eoin Ryan, Sean McCarthy, Don O’Donovan and David Ryan provided shore crew assistance at the lifeboat house.

Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘The lifeboat is often called upon to act as an ambulance service between the islands and mainland, and our volunteer crews are trained to a high standard in first aid and casualty care. If you find yourself at sea or on an island in need of medical assistance, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. We wish her a full and speedy recovery.’

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RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Kate Callanan Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Tel: 087 290 6607 or Baltimore RNLI Deputy Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Cyril Thornton Tel: 087 9876718

For more information please contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Ireland on 0876483547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland on 0871254124 or 018900460 or email [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.