
Castletownbere RNLI assists in a multi-agency rescue in the Dursey Sound
The Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was tasked today (Sunday 13 November) just before noon to go to the aid of a man trapped a ledge on the shore in the Dursey Sound.
The
lifeboat, under the command of Second Coxswain Paul
Stevens, was
launched within seven minutes and arrived on scene 35 minutes later. The
casualty was located at the bottom of a cliff on a narrow ledge and suspected
to be suffering from hypothermia.
Given the dangerous three to four-metre swell on the
shoreline, the lifeboat was unable to launch its inflatable Y-boat. The Shannon
based Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 was also on scene but unable to deploy a winchman
given the adverse conditions. The lifeboat was able to provide the Coast Guard
with details of the casualty's location through radio contact.
The local
Castletownbere Coast Guard shore-based unit lowered one of its team down the rock face who was able to
secure the casualty and both were brought up the cliff in a skilful
manoeuvre. On receiving a medical assessment from ambulance crew, he was
transferred to Tralee General Hospital by helicopter.
Ends
RNLI media contacts
For information contact Paul Stevens Castletownbere Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Paul Stevens tel: 086 6015110 or email lifeboat1744@eircom.net or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Media Relations tel: 087 1254 124 or email Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk
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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
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