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Courtmacsherry RNLI assist diver in call out alongside Rescue 115

Lifeboats News Release

The Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Val Adnams was called out just after 11am this morning Sat, when the Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre in Valentia activated the bleepers to respond to an incident 12 miles south of the Seven Heads in West Cork.

RNLI/Ciaran Dixon

Courtmacsherry crew onboard the Val Adnams after callout

A diver had got into difficulties while participating in a dive, in the deep waters on the wreck of the Lusitania.

The Lifeboat under Coxswain Ken Cashman and a crew of 5 assembled immediately and, after being briefed on the incident, made their way to the causality.

Also tasked this morning was the Coast Guard Rescue 115 Helicopter from Shannon.

As the diver required immediate care, it was decided to airlift him from the water by the Helicopter and transfer him as quickly as possible to the specialised treatment centre in Galway.

Once the airlift was successful, the Lifeboat was stood down and returned to its base in Courtmacsherry Harbour at 12.15am.

The crew on today’s callout were Coxswain Ken Cashman and crew members Dave Philips, Mark John Gannon, Simon Locke, Taylor Murphy and Ian McCarthy.

Many of the crew and operations officers were at the annual fundraising coffee morning in the garden of the Lifeboat Inn in Courtmacsherry this morning when the bleepers were activated.

The large crowd in attendance at the coffee morning, in glorious sunshine, got a superb view of the Lifeboat as it made its way out the harbour on its way to help others in distress at sea.

Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Station Launch Authority Vincent O Donovan praised the quick response of all crew members this morning and further commented that: ‘It was an eventful morning on sea and land with the stations best wishes being extended to the causality today.

‘Great thanks are due to the Station Fundraising committee, to David and Martin of the Lifeboat Inn, and to the large crowd that attended, who helped make this morning’s fundraiser such a great success.’

Photo. Courtmacsherry Lifeboat / Vincent O Donovan. Lifeboat crew after today’s callout with Launch Authorities Philip White and Dan Daly

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

For further information, please contact Vincent O'Donovan, Courtmacsherry RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer.

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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