Baltimore RNLI received an an alert from Valentia Coastguard at 09:29 this morning when a young boy in urgent need of medical attention required immediate evacuation from Cape Clear Island.

Coxswain Aidan Bushe along with 5 volunteer crewmen were launched within minutes of the alert in the all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Alan Massey. They proceeded in poor weather conditions to the North Harbour of Cape Clear Island against a swell of 3 metres and force 6-7 northwest winds.

When the lifeboat crew arrived at the pier the little boy was unresponsive. He was immediately stretchered aboard the the lifeboat where he was constantly monitored on the journey back to Baltimore. The lifeboat arrived at Baltimore pier at 10:30, from where the boy was transferred to Skibbereen for medical attention.

The evacuation was successfully completed in one  hour, a remarkable achievement given that current weather conditions have meant frequent cancellation of local ferries.

On board were ; Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell, crew Sean McCarthy,  Jerry Smith, Ronnie Carthy and Don O’Donovan

This is a sad end to a sailing trip which had set out from Schull yesterday afternoon. The alarm was raised when the19ft open Drascomb Lugger failed to return at 7pm last night.

Both the ALB (under Coxswain Kieran Cotter, Mechanic Brian McSweeney and crew John O’Flynn, Jerry Smith, Eoin Ryan, Don O’Donovan and Diarmuid Collins) and ILB (Helm Kieran Collins, Micheál Cottrell and Tadhg Collins) searched until after midnight when the search was stood down by the Coastguard.

The search resumed again at 5:30 today with both the ALB (Coxswain Pat Collins, Mechanic Sean McCarthy, Shane McSweeney, Diarmuid Collins, John O’Flynn,Tadhg Collins) and ILB (Helm Youen Jacob, John Kearney and Ryan O’Mahony) searching Roaring Water Bay.

Photo: Richard O’Flynn

Crew member Diarmuid Collins went aboard the RIB to establish a tow. The lifeboat then towed them to the safety of Baltimore Harbour.

On board the ‘Alan Massey’ were Coxswain Kieran Collins, Mechanic Brian McSweeney, Pat Collins, Diarmuid Colllins, Tadhg Collins, Jim Baker, John O’Flynn

(Photo Youen Jacob)

On board were:
Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Micheál Cottrell, Jerry Smith, Pat Collins, Tadhg Collins, Diarmuid Collins and Eoin Ryan.

 
Baltimore RNLI assisted three crew members on board a 20m fishing trawler which got into difficulty off West Cork late last night (Monday 20 January).

The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at 11.10pm following a report that a 20m trawler had lost steering three quarters of a mile south west of Cape Clear.

The lifeboat under Coxswain Aidan Bushe launched at 11.18pm and made its way to the scene.

The weather at the time was described as blowing force four to five south westerly winds and there was a three metre swell.

Having established a tow line, the lifeboat brought the vessel safely back to Baltimore.

Speaking following the call out, Tom Bushe, Baltimore RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘The vessel encountered difficulties late last night when it was dark and the weather conditions were fairly challenging. We were delighted to be able to assist and help the crew bring their vessel to safety’.

Whilst most of the country was taking refuge from storm force winds today the crew of Baltimore Lifeboat were called upon to assist in a medical evacuation from Sherkin Island.

The call for assistance came at 12:23 today when an elderly adult male suffered a badly broken leg.

The all weather lifeboat is designed for severe weather conditions and safely made its way across Baltimore harbour to the Island but considerable seamanship skills were required in the transfer of the stretchered casualty as a consequence of the large draw at Sherkin Pier.

Prior to transfer the man had received medical attention and been strapped to a stretcher immobilising the injured leg.

Coxswain Kieran Cotter brought the injured man ashore at the new RNLI compound at Bull Point in Baltimore. The man was transferred to an ambulance for further medical attention.

All weather lifeboat crew
Coxswain Kieran Cotter, Aidan Bushe mechanic Cathal Cottrell, Jerry Smith Micheal Cottrell, Pat Collins and Tadgh Collins

Shore crew Tom Kelly, Ronnie Carthy Diarmuid Colins and Colin Whooley

A 20 metre steel fishing vessel with two people on board called for assistance at 18:05 this evening whilst making passage from Castletownbere to Kinsale. The vessel was flooding due to problems with sea valves. The Baltimore RNLI all weather lifeboat responded within minutes proceeding to rendezvous with the stricken vessel 2 miles south of Brow Head near Crookhaven, Co Cork. The volunteer RNLI crew attempted to secure the safety of the Kinsale based fishing vessel by putting a salvage pump aboard to drain seawater from her bilges. The lifeboat then took her in tow while the crew of the fishing boat worked on her engines. 

The engines were restarted and the vessel began to make her own way for a time, but after the engines failed again the tow had to be restablished and the lifeboat continued to tow the fishing boat to Baltimore Harbour.

Baltimore RNLI  Coxswain Kieran Cotter said : ’It was fortunate that it was a fine night. We were able to transfer the salvage pump and establish the tow without a hitch’.

On board the Tamar class all weather lifeboat Alan Massey were Coxswain Kieran Cotter, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell, Ger Sheehy, Aidan Bushe, Ronnie Carthy, Eoin Ryan and Pat Collins