Skerries RNLI volunteers were tasked by Dublin Coast Guard shortly after 9pm on Thursday evening (18 July) to a man on board a trawler who had fallen ill and required assistance.
The volunteers in Skerries RNLI were just completing a scheduled exercise on the water in the inshore lifeboat when they were tasked to rendezvous with the 20-metre fishing vessel, which was making its way towards Skerries from some 12 miles north of the lifeboat’s position.
Once on scene, the crew transferred the man on to the lifeboat and carried out a first aid assessment before beginning a return course for Skerries.
When they arrived back to the slipway at the lifeboat station, volunteers assisted the man from the lifeboat to the awaiting ambulance. He was transferred to hospital for further tests and monitoring.
Conditions at the time had a Force 1–2 southerly wind with a slight to moderate sea and excellent visibility.
Speaking after the call-out, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said: “This may have looked a straightforward rescue to anyone standing on the beach yesterday evening, but further out to sea there was a bit of a swell running and the size difference between the vessels made this a tricky transfer.
“The helm and crew did a fantastic job in getting the man off the trawler and bringing him safely to shore.”