Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Val Adnams was called out at 7pm on Thursday evening (19 September) to assist in the rescue of a walker cut off by an oncoming high tide.
The distress call was raised by a member of the public who spotted the person in difficulty on the rocky shoreline to the east of Garrylucas beach, near the Old Head of Kinsale peninsula, and immediately contacted the emergency services.
Under coxswain Ken Cashman and a crew of five, the lifeboat was underway quickly and immediately made its way to the casualty’s reported location, arriving off the shoreline at 7.23pm.
It emerged that the casualty had managed to climb 20 feet up the rocky cliff face as the incoming tide cut them off from the shore, but was unable to go any further.
As the Old Head/Seven Heads Coast Guard Unit were first on scene at the top of the cliff and had set up their cliff rescue system, it was decided that the best method of rescue was the deployment of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 from Waterford that has just arrived.
In a skilful operation, the helicopter crew landed the winch person beside the casualty and they were airlifted to the safety of the green field above while the lifeboat stood by just off the shoreline.
The casualty was assessed by the coastguard unit and, while shaken by the events of the previous hour, they were found to be uninjured.
Speaking following the call-out, Vincent O’Donavan, Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat press officer said: “Great credit is due to the 20-strong members of the Old Head/Seven Heads Coast Guard Unit for directing the rescue operation so efficiently last evening.
“The lifeboat crew on board the call-out were coxswain Ken Cashman, mechanic Stuart Russell and crew members Mark Gannon, Peter Nunan, Denis Murphy and Evin O’Sullivan.”
