Achill Island RNLI responded to a request for assistance with the medical evacuation of a patient on Inisturk, a small island off the coast of County Galway, on Bank Holiday Monday.

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched shortly before 5 pm yesterday evening, Monday (2 May) with Coxswain, Dave Curtis, and 5 crew on board. It followed a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide assistance with an individual requiring medical evacuation from the island. The Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 118, was also requested to attend.

The all-weather lifeboat Sam and Ada Moody left Achill Island passing Achillbeg before rounding Clare Island and arriving at Inisturk Island at 5.35 pm. Sea conditions were very calm at the time with light north west winds, and the lifeboat crew were met with glorious sunshine on reaching Inisturk.

On arrival, the crew of Rescue 118 had taken the patient on board their aircraft and were getting ready to depart. The lifeboat crew stood by until the helicopter had safely departed before making their return to Achill Island.

#rnli – Clifden RNLI lifeboat crew had their first callout in their new all weather lifeboat last night (Tuesday 23 December) to bring a local GP to provide urgent and immediate medical attention to an elderly resident on Inishturk Island. The treatment means that the man will get to spend Christmas at home and not in hospital.

Earlier today, Afloat.ie reported how some 58 people on Inisturk face their first Christmas in decades without medical cover.

Clifden RNLI received their new all weather lifeboat, which is on a trial, during the Summer and the first callout was received at 6pm on Tuesday evening. Dr. Ciaran Mac Loughlin, a local GP contacted the emergency services and requested transport to a patient on the Island for urgent medical attention.

The volunteer lifeboat crew with Clifden RNLI was alerted and launched with the doctor onboard and returned to Clifden after 11pm.

Commenting on the callout Dr. Mac Loughlin said, 'The lifeboat provides an invaluable service to the community. My callout last night was to a man in need of immediate and urgent medical attention. The swift response of Clifden RNLI meant that the man did not have to be moved to hospital for treatment and is now recovering well at home.

I was very impressed with the new lifeboat and with the volunteer crew who brought me out to the island last night. We travelled there and back in complete darkness and their actions ensured that I could administer care to my patient on scene and not have to move him. I am very grateful to them for this.'

Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager John Brittain added, 'We have been eagerly awaiting the first callout for our new lifeboat, which works alongside our two inshore boats. I am pleased that its first callout had a successful outcome and that we were able to help the man from Inishturk spend Christmas at home.'