Displaying items by tag: Irish Cave Rescue Organisation

23rd December 2022

Brian MacCoitir of the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation Recalls Downpatrick Head Rescue

There have been many extraordinary rescue efforts in Irish waters over the past year. One which few involved will ever forget lasted 22 hours, close to Downpatrick Head in north Mayo this past September.

It took 14 hours alone to set up the gear to reach the 40-year-old caver trapped at the back of a sea cave, and it involved some 40 members of the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO), with support from four Coast Guard units and the RNLI Ballyglass lifeboat.

Cave rigging - (above and below) the scene at Downpatrick Head in Co Mayo where the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation rescued the individual, supported by the Coast Guard Units from Killala/Ballyglass/Killybegs/Achill, the Ballyglass RNLI Lifeboat, National Ambulance Service, Civil Defence, County Fire Service and An Gardai Siochana, including the Gardai Water Unit

Coincidentally, it was close to where Ballina diver Michael Heffernan lost his life during a cave rescue in October 1997 - a loss remembered recently at a memorial event attended by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at Lacken pier.

The Irish Cave Rescue Organisation team at the successful finish of the Downpatrick Head rescue in north Mayo in 2022

Brian MacCoitir, ICRO warden for the southwest region, held an audience in Tully’s Bar spellbound recently when he outlined the details of the multi-agency effort during one of the Kinvara adventure talks in Co Galway.

MacCoitir spoke to Wavelengths, and first recalled how the experience of the casualty as a caver was key.

Afloat.ie · Cave Rescue - Briain MacCoitir

Exiting the free-dive sump at Downpatrick Head

Published in Wavelength Podcast

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Body of Cave Diver Recovered After Six Days

A British rescue team has finally recovered the body of the Polish man who died while cave diving in Co Galway, some six days after he was first reported missing.

http://afloat.ie/watersport/diving/

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, 34-year-old Artur Kozlowski failed to re-emerge from a cave dive near Gort on 5 September.

http://afloat.ie/watersport/diving/item/16780-efforts-resume-to-recover-body-of-cave-diver/

His body was located last Tuesday evening in the deepest section of the cave, some 52m below the surface.

But it took till Saturday for a team of cave rescue experts to safety recover the body from the narrow passage nearly 1km into the cavern.

Three British caving experts worked with the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation and gardaí on the dangerous operation.

The Speleological Union of Ireland offered its condolences to Kozlowski and his family, who have travelled to Ireland.

In a statement, it said: “This is an unforgiving sport requiring extreme mental and physical fitness, but it was Artur’s passion.”

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0912/1224303945361.html

A British rescue team has finally recovered the body of the Polish man who died while cave diving in Co Galway, some six days after he was first reported missing.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, 34-year-old expert cave diver Artur Kozlowski failed to re-emerge from a dive near Gort on 5 September.

His body was located last Tuesday evening in the deepest section of the cave, some 52m below the surface.

But it took till Saturday for a team of cave rescue experts to safety recover the body from the narrow passage nearly 1km into the cavern.

Three British caving experts worked with the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation and gardaí on the dangerous operation.

The Speleological Union of Ireland offered its condolences to Kozlowski and his family, who have travelled to Ireland.

In a statement, it said: “This is an unforgiving sport requiring extreme mental and physical fitness, but it was Artur’s passion.”

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

Published in Diving

Tagged under

About the Loughs Agency

The Loughs Agency is a governmental body established under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland. The Agency's goal is to provide sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits by effectively conserving, managing, promoting, and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

The Agency's governing legislation confers several specific functions, including the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery, and aquaculture matters. Moreover, the Agency is responsible for managing, conserving, protecting, improving, and developing the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Additionally, the Agency has the task of developing and licensing aquaculture, as well as the development of marine tourism.

The Loughs Agency reports to the North South Ministerial Council and its government Sponsor Departments, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) in Ireland. The Departments fund the Agency on an equal basis.

The Loughs Agency's focus on sustainable development is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, environment, and local communities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The Agency's efforts to conserve and enhance the region's marine resources, including fisheries and aquaculture, are expected to benefit local communities, promote tourism, and contribute to economic growth.

In conclusion, the Loughs Agency plays a vital role in promoting the sustainable social, economic, and environmental development of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Its work on marine conservation and development is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the region's natural resources and in promoting sustainable economic growth.