Clifden RNLI carry out island medical evacuation
The Clifden RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched yesterday evening (Tuesday 17 July) at 7.46pm in response to a medical evacuation request from Inishbofin Island.
A young female visitor to the island had sustained a serious head injury after a cycling accident and needed to be transferred to the mainland for hospital care.
The lifeboat arrived to Inishbofin harbour at 8.53pm where crew members Joe Acton and Daniel Whelan met the island nurse, carried out an assessment and then transferred the casualty on board. They then proceeded to Cleggan harbour where an ambulance was waiting to transfer the casualty to UCHG. The crew continued to monitor her condition throughout the crossing.
Clifden RNLI Coxswain James Mullen said afterwards ‘The casualty in this case was certainly in need of urgent medical treatment and we were glad to have been able to help to transfer her quickly to the mainland. The summer population of Inishbofin increases massively due to tourism and as a result these sorts of situations while rare can arise. The presence of the RNLI all-weather boat in the area has certainly helped for these kinds of incidents.’
Earlier in the week the Clifden all weather boat had been launched to another medical emergency in the island but stood down after the Coastguard helicopter reached the scene first.
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