Valentia RNLI goes to aid of injured fisherman on 34m trawler
Valentia RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat on Saturday evening (8 May) to assist a fisherman with crush injuries to the chest onboard a fishing trawler.
At 7.28pm, Valentia Coast Guard requested Valentia RNLI's all-weather lifeboat to launch to an injured fisherman on board a 34m French fishing trawler. The vessel was 32 miles west of Valentia. Weather conditions at the time were good with clear visibility, a force four North West wind and a 3m swell.
Once on scene, one of the lifeboat crew members was transferred to the fishing trawler to administer casualty care to the injured fisherman. The crew member assessed and treated the fisherman for the injuries he sustained, while liaising with doctors in Cork University Hospital on the fisherman’s condition. Keeping weather conditions in mind and the condition of the fisherman, it was decided that the best course of treatment would be to airlift the patient to the nearest emergency department.
The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 was tasked to the incident and rendezvoused with the trawler. The winchman/paramedic was lowered onto the deck of the vessel and taken below deck to the fisherman. With the assistance of the lifeboat crew, the injured man was brought out on deck and winched onboard the helicopter. The fisherman was then airlifted to University Hospital Kerry for further treatment.
Speaking following the call out, Valentia RNLI Coxswain Richard Quigley said: The volunteer crew responded quickly and made the fisherman, who was in a great deal of pain as comfortable as possible until they were able to hand over to the Irish Coast Guard.
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