Baltimore RNLI tasked with a medevac call to Cape Clear Island

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 5.20pm, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide a medical evacuation for a child living on the island who had sustained an injury following a fall.

The lifeboat arrived at North Harbour on Cape Clear at 5.40pm and after a handover from the nurse on the island to one of the volunteer Casualty Care lifeboat crew members the casualty was quickly transferred on to the lifeboat, which then proceeded to return to the station in Baltimore, arriving at 6.05pm.

There were six volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Aidan Bushe, mechanic Jerry Smith and crew members Micheal Cottrell, Ollie O’Mahony, Stuart Musgrave and Brian McSweeney. Conditions at sea were breezy with a south westerly force 5 wind, and a 1.5m sea swell.

Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘This was a very fast shout for our lifeboat crew with less than an hour from pagers going off to the lifeboat returning from the call. Please remember, should you get into difficulty or have a medical emergency at sea or on an island, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Kate Callanan, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Ireland, 087 290 6607 or email [email protected]

Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Ireland, 087 648 3547, [email protected]

Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Ireland, 087 125 4124, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.