THE IRISH Coast Guard rescue helicopter service faced extreme conditions for the third time in a week when the Waterford Sikorsky helicopter rescued a fisherman 225 kilometres (140 miles) south of Fastnet Rock.
The rescue late on Monday night by Capt Dara Fitzpatrick and crew involved navigating through snow showers and a headwind on the return journey – this put pressure on fuel supplies.
“We spent a half-hour on scene picking up the Spanish fisherman who had severe chest pains. Another 10 minutes, and we would have had to leave because of fuel constraints,” Capt Fitzpatrick told The Irish Times.
“The snow showers on return increased the headwind, which in turn slowed us down, so we were very conscious of the fuel gauge,” she said. “We were given top cover support by the Air Corps, which was fantastic.”
The 5½-hour mission was tasked by Valentia Coast radio station following a report that a skipper of a Spanish fishing vessel was seriously ill.
A Spanish state medical ship was en route, but was concerned the man’s condition could deteriorate.
The man was flown to Cork University Hospital for treatment.
Crew for the mission with Capt Fitzpatrick were co-pilot Ronan Flanagan, and winch team Colm Blackburn and Andrew Bernof.
The rescue is the third long-range flight by the Irish Coast Guard in a week, with two of the three carried out by the Shannon helicopter rescue base.
On December 16th, the Shannon helicopter crew of Capt Rob Goodbody, co-pilot Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh and winch team Paul Truss and Jim O’Neill spent almost five hours in the air rescuing a Portuguese crewman with head and hand injuries from a Spanish fishing vessel 190 miles west of Shannon.
On December 17th, a Shannon crew of Capt Cathal Oakes, co-pilot Ciarán Parker and winch team Eamon Ó Broin and Colm Hillery spent over five hours in the air rescuing an Indonesian crewman who had sustained serious head injuries on a Spanish fishing vessel.
All three casualties were treated by emergency teams from Cork University Hospital, and top cover was provided by the Air Corps Casa maritime patrol team.
Mountain rescue teams have also been busy this week, with four call-outs for Co Wicklow rescue volunteers in one day.
Glen of Imaal Red Cross and Dublin/Wicklow mountain rescue teams assisted two male climbers in Fraughan Rock glen and three motorists who got into difficulties in separate locations on Co Wicklow’s Military Road on Sunday evening.
The Irish Mountain Rescue Association appealed this week to hill-walkers to undertake adequate planning and weather checks if venturing out over Christmas.
It advised that children should not be taken on upland trips at this time of year.