The Shannon based Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter undertook two medevac (medical evacuation) operations over the weekend airlifting injured crewmen from different fishing vessels.
On Sunday, the crew was called to an Irish registered fishing vessel about 20 kilometres south of Mizen Head in Cork.
Rescue 115 was dispatched from its base at Shannon Airport shortly before 4.30pm. The trawler crew had administered first aid to their colleague while they waited for the helicopter.
The injured crewman was winched on board the helicopter at around 5.20pm where he received further treatment. It’s understood the crew member sustained crush injuries to the fingers of one hand.
He was treated by the helicopter paramedics during the flight to Cork Airport where National Ambulance Service paramedics were waiting to accept the casualty. The man was then transported by road to Cork University Hospital for treatment.
On Saturday morning, the crew of Rescue 115 was tasked to airlift an injured fisherman from a trawler off the Clare coast.
The Irish Coast Guard was alerted to the incident at around 11.30am and the Shannon based helicopter was quickly dispatched.
The Irish registered vessel had been fishing about 35 kilometres west of the Cliffs of Moher in Clare and south west of the Aran Islands when the accident happened. It’s understood that a crew member sustained a leg injury after getting caught on a hook.
The man was airlifted from the trawler and flown to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) for treatment.
Both operations were coordinated by watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard marine rescue sub centre on Valentia Island in Co Kerry.