The Irish Coast Guard has completed a long-range medical evacuation (medevac) from a fishing trawler off the south west coast this evening.
Assisted by the Irish Naval Service and Irish Air Corps, the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter based at Shannon flew over 400 kilometres off the coast to reach the fishing trawler.
The Naval Service vessel LÉ RóisÃn, which had been on patrol in the area at the time, responded to a request for assistance from a Faro Islands registered trawler. The vessel was about 225 nautical miles (416kms) off the Cork coast.
Naval medics boarded the vessel and administered emergency treatment to the patient while they awaited the arrival of the helicopter.
The medevac operation commenced at around 6.00pm when the Coast Guard was requested to undertake the mission following a report that a fisherman was complaining of chest pain.
An Air Corps Casa CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft was deployed from Baldonnel to provide communications top cover for Rescue 115.
The Waterford based helicopter Rescue 117 was sent to Kerry Airport when it remained ready to assist if needed.
The casualty was airlifted from the vessel at around 8.30pm and flown to Shannon Airport where an ambulance was standing by.
The man was been taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
Tonight’s operation was the second long-range mission undertaken by the Irish Coast Guard in just 24 hours.
Yesterday, a man in his 30’s was evacuated from a Russian ship 260 kilometres west of Kerry Head. He is understood to have suffered multiple injuries and was also flown to Shannon Airport and transported to hospital by road.
The crew of the Irish Naval Service maritime patrol vessel LÉ RóisÃn also assisted in that operation.