Displaying items by tag: Sea Cave

18th September 2022

Rescuers Await Low Tide to Retrieve Man Trapped in Mayo Sea Cave

A man has been rescued from a sea cave on the Co Mayo coast in which he has been trapped for close to 24 hours.

A multi-agency rescue operation had been awaiting low tide this afternoon (Sunday 18 September) to retrieve a man trapped in a sea cave at Downpatrick Head since the previous evening.

According to The Irish Times, the man in his 40s had been exploring the cave with a woman on Saturday (17 September) when they became trapped by the rising tide and were swept off a ledge by a wave surge.

The woman was taken from the water by kayakers who responded to the emergency and then to safety while the man climbed onto a ledge where he remained overnight.

Local gardaí say the man maintained contact with rescuers from the Irish Coast Guard and RNLI who were hopeful of gaining access to the sea cave with this afternoon’s forecast low tide.

RTÉ News reports that rescuers this afternoon brought the man to the mouth of the cave, where he was fitted with a buoyancy suit before being airlifted to hospital by the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118.

This story was updated at 5pm with additional information.

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About the Watersports Inclusion Games

The Watersports Inclusion Games are an award-winning event organised by Irish Sailing with partners from across the watersports sector, that enable people of all abilities from the physical, sensory, intellectual and learning spectrums to take to the water to participate in a wide range of water activities.

More than 250 people with physical, sensory, intellectual and learning disabilities typically take part in the weekend's events.

Participants will have the opportunity to try more sports than ever before, with an expanded range including sailing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, rowing, surfing, water skiing and powerboating all on offer.

The Games typically take place each August.

The organisers of the Games want to let people of all abilities know that there are multiple watersports available to them, and to encourage more people from all backgrounds to get involved and out on the water regardless of ability. They aim to highlight that any barriers faced by people with disabilities can be eliminated.

There are social, health and wellness benefits associated with sailing and all watersports. These include improved muscle strength and endurance, improved cardiovascular fitness and increased agility, enhanced spatial awareness, greater mental wellness through the balancing of serotonin levels and the lowering of stress levels, improved concentration and the forging of positive relationships.