#RESCUE – Lifeboat crew with Red Bay RNLI in County Antrim were involved in a dramatic cliff rescue last night (Saturday 14 April 2012) when a man out walking on Fair Head in Antrim lost his footing, falling thirty feet and sustaining multiple injuries.
The lifeboat launched at 5.15pm on Saturday evening to a report of a walker injured on the cliffs. Conditions in the area hampered the lifeboat going in too close to the rocks with a heavy sea swell present. The lifeboat crew called for assistance and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Sligo was called to the scene.
Two volunteer lifeboat crew swam from the lifeboat to the rocks and made their way up to the casualty. He was suffering from a number of injuries and in considerable pain. The lifeboat crew administered oxygen and first aid and made the man as comfortable as possible while waiting for the Coast Guard helicopter.
The Red Bay lifeboat crew attend the casualty
The lifeboat volunteers stayed with the casualty for two hours and assisted the Coast Guard team who secured him onto a stretcher and winched him up to the helicopter for transfer to Coleraine Hospital.
Commenting on the callout Red Bay RNLI Paddy McLaughlin said, "Under the circumstances the man was extremely lucky he managed to raise the alarm for help. No one knew where he was and the area has very poor mobile coverage. First aid is an important part of lifeboat crew training and it played a vital role in this callout. "