Baltimore RNLI volunteers were called out for their second medical evacuation from Sherkin Island in three days on Tuesday morning. The all-weather lifeboat launched at 9.20 am following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to assist a man on the West Cork island.
Ambulance Crew Joins Lifeboat
The lifeboat, carrying six volunteer crew and accompanied by two HSE Ambulance personnel, arrived at Sherkin Island pier at 9.25 am.
After paramedics assessed him, they brought him aboard. The lifeboat departed Sherkin at 9.38 am and was back at Baltimore lifeboat station at 9.48 am, where he was transferred to an ambulance for further treatment.
Coxswain Brendan Cottrell was joined by mechanic Jerry Smith and crew members Eoin Ryan, David Ryan, Michael Cottrell and Don O’Donovan.
Conditions were calm, with a southerly Force 2 wind and smooth seas.
Second Call-Out Since Sunday
The call came just two days after Baltimore RNLI carried out another medical evacuation from Sherkin Island in the early hours of Sunday.
On that occasion, the lifeboat launched following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to assist a woman who had sustained injuries in a fall.
Six volunteer crew and two HSE Ambulance personnel reached Sherkin at 3 am. HSE paramedics and a member of Baltimore RNLI's casualty care team assessed and treated the woman before bringing her to Baltimore, with the lifeboat returning to the station at 3.57am.
12 Medevacs Since July
Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Kate Callanan said the station had experienced a particularly busy summer for medical evacuations.
“Baltimore RNLI regularly provides medevacs to people living on or visiting the islands around Baltimore, and this summer has been particularly busy for our volunteer lifeboat crew,” she said.
“There have been 12 medevacs since the start of July. All the medevacs were for people on Cape Clear and the Sherkin Islands, including one for an injured person aboard a yacht moored in Cape Clear.
“Please remember if you find yourself in a medical emergency whilst on an island, call 999 or 112.”
