The crew of the Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter airlifted an injured crew member from a fishing trawler off the south west coast last night.
The 31m (100ft) Spanish registered vessel was about 70 nautical miles (130kms) south west of Dingle, Co Kerry when the crew raised the alarm.
Rescue 115 departed Shannon Airport for the scene at around 7.30pm for the 80-minute flight to rendezvous with the vessel.
On reaching the trawler, a paramedic was winched onto the deck where the injured man was waiting to be assessed. After receiving treatment, the fisherman was winched on board the helicopter and flown to Shannon Airport from where be was transported by road to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
It’s understood the crew member sustained a serious hand injury.
The fishing vessel is believed to have departed Burela in Spain on February 7th and arrived off the south west coast on Sunday where it has been fishing since.
The operation was coordinated by watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue sub-centre on Valentia Island in Kerry.