Woman on Cape Clear island evacuated by RNLI

Baltimore RNLI provided an evacuation last night when a woman living on Cape Clear Island required medical treatment.

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat shortly after 11, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide a medical evacuation for the woman.

They arrived North Harbour on Cape Clear Island within half an hour, and after a quick assessment by some of the Casualty Care lifeboat crew members, the woman was transferred onboard via a stretcher.

The lifeboat returned to the station in Baltimore just after midnight, at which point the casualty was handed over to the care of HSE Ambulance crew.

There were seven volunteers onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew members Micheal Cottrell, Colin Whooley, Stuart Musgrave, David Ryan and Don O’Donovan.

They described conditions during the call out as fresh with a south westerly force 5-6 wind and a choppy sea.

Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said, “Baltimore RNLI often provide medical evacuations to residents of and visitors to the islands off the coast of West Cork including Cape Clear, Sherkin and Heir.” 

She advised anyone who finds themselves in a medical emergency whilst on an island to call 999 or 112.