Lifeboat assists Spanish Fisherman

A Spanish fisherman with suspected heart problems was brought ashore in the early hours of the morning from a fishing vessel off the south west coast in the early hours of this morning. The 51 year old man, was taken ill at about 11.00 p.m. on Sunday evening and the vessel contacted La Corrunia Radio in Spain seeking medical advice. Medico Madrid then contacted Valentia Coastguard Radio stating the  man needed  to be hospitalised immediately. Valentia Radio then instructed the 90 foot fishing vessel M.F.V. “Arbride” to make for the port of Castletownbere  without delay.

 Castletownbere lifeboat, under command of Emergency Coxswain P. Stevens, with crew B. Gonnelly, P. O’Conor, J.T. O’Sullivan, M. Martin-Sullivan Jnr, and A. Sparrow, was tasked and launched at 2.44 a.m. and was on-scene  at the western entrance to Berehaven Harbour within 12 minutes. The “Arbride” was located half a mile west of Ardnakinna lighthouse in a 1 to 2 metre swell with a south easterly wind Force 4.

At 2.58 a.m. the casualty was transferred from the fishing vessel with the assistance of the lifeboat crew. The lifeboat then proceeded back to Castletownbere and at 3.21. a.m. the casualty was landed at the steps at the eastern end of the main pier where he received attention from ambulance personnel and was taken to Bantry Hospital for treatment.

The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service by 3.45 am.