25 July 2018
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Baltimore RNLI carried out a medical evacuation this afternoon (Wednesday 25 July) from Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork.
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 1.42pm to provide medical assistance and evacuation to an islander living on Cape Clear.
The all-weather lifeboat arrived in North Harbour at Cape Clear at 2.05pm and four of the volunteer crew went to the location where the casualty was, to assist with transfer and casualty care. Once ready the casualty was brought onboard Baltimore lifeboat and they departed the island at 3.07pm. The lifeboat returned to the station in Baltimore and handed the casualty over to the care of HSE Ambulance crew at 3.51pm.
There were six volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew members Eoin Ryan, Kieran Collins, Emma Lupton and Don O’Donovan. Conditions at sea during the call out were relatively calm with a south-westerly force 3-4 wind and 1m sea swell.
Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘Medical evacuations (medevacs) are a regular service that Baltimore RNLI provide between the mainland and islands, and also between the mainland and private and commercial boats at sea. If you find yourself in need of medical assistance, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’
