Castletownbere Lifeboat was called this morning  to assist in the rescue of a Spanish fisherman who received a head injury in poor weather conditions off the south west coast late last night. The Spanish registered vessel ‘Neuvo Confurco’ requested assistance when a wire cable snapped on deck and seriously injured a crew member.

   By midnight the Shannon based Sikorsky Coastguard rescue helicopter was on scene but was prevented from lifting the casualty due to Force 8 South Westerly winds and a swell of nearly ten metres. The hazardous conditions meant that the rescue helicopter had to abandon the rescue attempt and at 3.00 a.m. it returned to Cork Airport for fuel.

   The vessel had been given instructions to steam to Castletownbere harbour and at first light the helicopter resumed its mission. Valentia Coastguard, who co-ordinated the rescue, requested the assistance of Castletownbere Lifeboat. The lifeboat under command of Coxswain B. O’Driscoll, and crew B. Gonnelly, M. Martin-Sullivan Snr, M.T. O’Donoghue, P. Stevens, A. Sparrow, J. Cross, & M. Martin-Sullivan Jnr. launched at 9.02 a.m. and was on scene by 9.22 a.m.

  By this time the ‘Neuvo Confurco’ had arrived in the eastern entrance to Berehaven harbour and was sheltering in more favourable conditions. The lifeboat stood by in case that the helicopter still had difficulty in airlifting the casualty or should it reach the end of operational capability due to fuel capacity. By 9.24 a.m. the helicopter winchman had successfully landed on board the Spanish vessel and prepared the casualty for transfer.

  The rescue  helicopter landed the casualty at Cork Airport at 9.50. a.m. and he was transferred by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where his condition was described as ‘stable’.

Castletownbere Lifeboat was refuelled and back on its moorings by 10.10. a.m.  

Photos by: Lifeboat Crewman, Marney O'Donoghue