
Arranmore RNLI launched for first time in 2025 to assist in medical evacuation
The volunteer crew of Arranmore RNLI were requested to assist in a medical evacuation from the island at 11.15 this morning. This is the first call for assistance for the lifeboat in the New Year.
The casualty was handed over by the island's voluntary ambulance service to the lifeboat crew for transfer to a waiting ambulance in Burtonport and then on to Letterkenny University Hospital.
It is also the first Arranmore call out for Coxswain (Afloat Mechanic) Karl O’Neill who is currently on relief duty at the station. Karl, from Portrush has been a crew member on the Portrush lifeboat for 18 years and recently passed out as a Coxswain Afloat Mechanic which involves travelling to various RNLI stations within the Irish region to provide relief services where needed. Karl’s uncle, Anthony Chambers was the mechanic on the Portrush lifeboat until his retirement several years ago.
Karl said: 'Most of my family have been involved in volunteering with the RNLI for years, I started when I was 18 and was a crew member with Portrush RNLI as well as being a Lifeguard Supervisor for a number of years. We would have been involved in a few medical evacuations from Rathlin Island and it is a great service to provide to the islands. On behalf of the Arranmore crew I would like to wish the patient a speedy recovery’.
Arranmore RNLI volunteer crew onboard were, Coxswain Karl O’Neill, Trainee coxswain Kieran O’Donnell, Mechanic Philip McCauley, Finbar Gallagher, Pat Boyle, Julie Savoie and Aisling Cox.
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RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Nora Flanagan, Arranmore RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0878047032 or [email protected]
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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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