'Very unfortunate that this man got caught with a rock just underneath the surface': Airlift after dive accident at Cork cove

Mon, 01 Jun, 2020 - 21:36

Sarah O’Dwyer & Roisin Burke

A 35-year-old man, who is understood to be from Cork City, is in a very serious condition in hospital with possible spinal injuries following a diving incident at Nohoval Cove near Kinsale today.

It is understood the man jumped from a height, with estimates ranging from 30 to 50 feet, into the water below but landed on unseen rock just below the surface of the water.

Kinsale RNLI, Oysterhaven and Summercove Coast Guard, the Shannon R115 helicopter, Gardaí, and the Ambulance Service responded to the incident just after 2.35pm on bank holiday Monday. Kinsale RNLI lifeboat helm Jonathan Connor said when the crew arrived, the injured man was “a major concern”

“He was conscious and coherent, but just in a severe amount of pain when we got to him,” Mr Connor said.
"He did the correct thing and stayed calm, and didn’t try to swim back to shore himself.

"The right judgement calls were made and the best procedure was put in place."

A group of four or five men were on the rock with the injured man and were very helpful to the RNLI during their operation.

The R115 brought the man to Cork Airport, where he was brought by ambulance to Cork University Hospital. Picture: Cork Airport Police / Fire & Rescue Service on Facebook.

R115 subsequently airlifted the man to Cork Airport, where he was brought by ambulance to CUH.

Senator Tim Lombard, who is from Kinsale, said that the Nohoval Cove area is known among locals as being a dangerous spot.

“There are rocks underneath the water that you just don’t see,” Mr Lombard told The Echo. “Locals generally know how dangerous the cove is so they traditionally go to Rocky Bay or Roberts Cove or Ringabella.

"It’s just very unfortunate that this man got caught with a rock that was just underneath the surface of the water."

Paramedics leaving Nohoval village after attending the scene of diving accident where a man was injured. Picture Dan Linehan

Kinsale RNLI lifeboat helm Jonathan Connor said that there was a big crowd at Nohoval Cove on Monday.

“The 5km rule is still in place. The vast amount of people in the area was a bit of an eye-opener for us,” he said.

He also urged safety: “You need to try and know your locality and check the tides before you go out to the water. It helps when you know the area that you’re in. In some cases you do need to check the depth. It’s about having a lot of respect for the water.

“It’s an unforgiving place.”