#rnli – Baltimore inshore lifeboat was called to give assistance when a medical emergency occurred on board a 75ft fishing vessel in Roaring Water Bay, West Cork last night. The two crew on board had been pumping the vessel bilges with a petrol pump when one of them became overcome with fumes and collapsed. The boat which services mussel rafts in the bay was at her moorings at the time. The casualty was a young man in his late twenties. His fellow crew called for assistance and managed to get him above decks.
The call for assistance was received at Baltimore lifeboat station at 18:51. Weather conditions were very poor at the time, with winds of Force 6 gusting to Force 7 and a sea swell of 1.5 metres. The inshore lifeboat was tasked into service because it could more easily negotiate the mussel rafts strung out along the bay.
Helm Jerry Smith with crew Tadhg Collins and Colin Rochford proceeded through the islands of Roaring Water Bay in pitch darkness in the twin engined Atlantic 75 RIB. When they arrived on scene at 19:30, Schull Community Rescue were already providing medical assistance. The Baltimore lifeboat were able to support efforts to revive the casualty providing essential oxygen.
A Coast Guard helicopter was dispatched to evacuate the young man. He was winched off the deck of the fishing boat at 20:15 and taken to Cork University Hospital.
The inshore lifeboat then returned in worsening weather conditions to the lifeboat station arriving back at 21:30. Crewman Tadhg Collins said, 'it was good to see rescue services working together in a coordinated fashion to ensure the safety of life at sea'.