Wicklow RNLI volunteers launched their inshore lifeboat on Sunday to help transfer an injured swimmer from a floating pontoon in Wicklow Harbour. The call came at 12.50 pm after the Coast Guard requested assistance from the station. The young man had been injured on a pontoon used by swimmers to access the water.
Lifeguards treated the casualty before the National Ambulance Service arrived. However, the state of the tide meant the casualty could not be moved safely from the pontoon onto the harbour pier. The ambulance crew requested assistance through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Dublin.
The RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched at 1pm under the command of helm Mark Kavanagh, with two volunteer crew members. In calm conditions, the lifeboat reached the casualty within a minute of launching. The casualty was transferred safely aboard the lifeboat and brought ashore to a waiting ambulance for onward transport to the hospital.
The crew returned to the station 20 minutes after launching.
Speaking after the call-out, helm Mark Kavanagh said: "We were pleased to be able to assist the casualty, and we hope that they recover quickly from their injury." "With the good weather, I'd like to remind people that if they see anyone in difficulty, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard."
