An operation is under way to airlift a fisherman who became ill from a trawler 170 nautical miles west of Valentia Island to Kerry General Hospital.
The Waterford rescue helicopter was en route to refuel in Kerry Airport on Monday afternoon before continuing towards the Dutch trawler, Willem van der Zwan.
The man was to be airlifted off the vessel, which is just inside the Irish search and rescue region, and transported back to hospital in Tralee in an operation coordinated by the Valentia Coast Guard.
Because the trawler is so far out to sea, another aircraft is required to provide “top cover” to the Waterford rescue helicopter, allowing it to maintain communications with the Coast Guard base.
