'Atrocious' weather hampers coastguard rescue

A COASTGUARD helicopter was unable to come to the assistance of an injured trawlerman last night due to the poor weather off the south-east coast.

A Spanish trawler looked for assistance to get the crewman, who had injured his hand on board, to hospital. The vessel was 70 miles south of Mizen Head at the time.

The Waterford-based Rescue 117 was sent out to pick him up but due to what was described by coastguard members as ‘atrocious’ weather conditions at the time, the crew were unable to complete the rescue.

Once the weather calmed the trawler was able to make its way to Castletownbere early on Saturday morning. The man was taken from the trawler by a pilot boat and transferred to Cork University Hospital.