A man has been airlifted to hospital after he was recovered from the Shannon Estuary during a major search operation this morning.
The man is understood to have been in the water for almost two hours and was spotted by the crew of the Waterford based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 117.
The alarm was raised shortly after 9.00am when a person was reported ‘overboard’ from the Killimer to Tarbert ferry. The vessel’s crew immediately commenced a search of the area while the Irish Coast Guard was alerted. A second Shannon Ferry Group vessel also joined the search.
Watch officers at the Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry mounted a significant search and rescue operation.
The nearby Kilrush RNLI inshore lifeboat (ILB) was mobilised while the Kilkee unit of the Irish Coast Guard dispatched a team by road to assist in the search.
Rescue 117 was tasked from its base in Waterford while the Fenit RNLI all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was also requested to make their way to the scene along with the Ballybunion Coast Guard unit and Ballybunnion Sea and Cliff Rescue unit.
A number of vessels that were in the area at the time, including several yachts taking part in a local event and the Shannon Pilot boat also joined the effort. Vessels in the area, which were in a position to assist in the search, were requested to do so.
Kilkee Coast Guard volunteers and members of the public carried a search of the shoreline between Aylevarroo and Killimer including the area around the jetty at the ESB’s power station a Moneypoint where staff are also believed to have helped out.
Shortly before 11.00am, the crew of Rescue 117 reported seeing someone in the water a short distance west of the ESB’s Tarbert Power station on the Kerry shore. Nearby search vessels were alerted and requested to make their way to the location.
Rescue 117’s winchman/paramedic entered the water and secured the casualty. The Kilrush RNLI lifeboat reached the scene and quickly recovered the casualty onto their vessel and assisted the helicopter winchman during the operation. The man was then winched from the lifeboat onto the helicopter and flown directly to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. The man is reported to be suffering from ‘severe hypothermia.’
Once it was confirmed that the casualty had been located, the search operation was stood down.
Gardaí are understood to have interviewed a number of people on the ferry.
Speaking after the call out, Kilrush RNLI Helm Charlie Glynn said: ‘This was a large and time-critical search in the Shannon Estuary. The casualty was in the water for nearly two hours so it was great to be able to bring them safely to hospital as a result and we wish them well.
‘To see so many agencies and local vessels working seamlessly together was remarkable. It was a professional and determined effort. This incident is also a timely reminder of how quickly things can change on the water. We urge everyone to always wear a lifejacket and should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’