Baltimore RNLI provides medical evacuation from Cape Clear Island
Baltimore RNLI carried out a medical evacuation last night (Friday 7 June) from Cape Clear Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork.
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 6.20pm, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide medical assistance and evacuation to an islander living on Cape Clear.
The Baltimore all-weather lifeboat arrived at North Harbour in Cape Clear at 6.39pm. The casualty was brought onboard and the lifeboat departed the island at 6.41pm. The lifeboat returned to the station in Baltimore and handed the casualty over to the care of the HSE Ambulance crew at 7.03pm.
There were seven volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Kieran Cotter, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew members Jerry Smith, Kieran Collins, Pat Collins, Colin Rochford and David Ryan. Assisting at the boathouse in Baltimore were Gerald O’Brien, Aidan Bushe and Don O’Donovan. Conditions at sea during the call out were good with a north-westerly force 4-5 wind, a 1m sea swell and very good visibility.
Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘If you find yourself in a medical emergency whilst on an island call 999 or 112 and explain to the operator what the nature of the call is. The operator will then make sure that the call is directed to both the Coast Guard and the National Ambulance Service. We wish the casualty a full recovery. Our thoughts today are also with the family, friends and colleagues of the crew members of the French lifeboat service SNSM who lost their lives yesterday during a rescue.’
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RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 087 2906607 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [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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