Skerries RNLI volunteers responding to a reported flare sighting off Rush were tasked to the rescue of a cliff fall casualty in Balbriggan on a busy Tuesday night (1 September).
Shortly before 8.30pm, the Skerries lifeboat crew were tasked to investigate multiple reports of a red distress flare in the vicinity of the North Beach in Rush.
The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched and the crew made their way to Rush, liasing en route with a yacht in the area which also confirmed the sighting.
With no immediate signs of a vessel in distress on scene, the lifeboat entered a search pattern — joined shortly after by the Irish Coast Guard’s Dublin-based helicopter Rescue 116 as Skerries’ local coastguard unit searched on land.
Eventually it was determined the flare had likely been fired from land. But as soon as the search was stood down, all services were called to Balbriggan where a man had fallen from a cliff
Rescue 116 was first on scene and its winchman began casualty care, and the lifeboat sent a crew member ashore to assist before the casualty was winched up and airlifted to hospital for further treatment.
“This turned into a long evening for all the rescue services involved,” said Skerries lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning.
“Thankfully it was a good outcome and another great example of how well all the services work together to help anyone in distress.”