An RNLI lifeboat braved snow flurries and two metre high seas for a medical evacuation of a man from Inishbofin island overnight.
The Achill Island RNLI lifeboat was called out for a medical evacuation shortly before 10pm on Monday night, on a 20 nautical mile journey to Inishbofin.
The trip took the all-weather lifeboat past Clare Island and Inishturk in two metre high seas, what the RNLI calls “moderate” conditions.
There were other weather conditions for the volunteer crew of six to contend with. It was a dark and blustery night, with showers of rain and westerly winds.
Upon arriving at Inishbofin after an hour’s journey, the crew were met with a flurry of snow, but still managed to get the patient aboard safely.
Travelling in the middle of the night, the boat made its way to the mainland, where Cleggan pier was lit up by the Coast Guard to guide them in.
They also helped transfer the patient to a waiting ambulance, which brought them to University Hospital Galway for treatment.
The lifeboat Sam and Ada Moody returned to Achill Island at 1.26am this morning.
Speaking after the call out, Ciaran Needham, Achill Island RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said, “As always, it is great to see inter-agency cooperation working so well in the early hours of the morning.”
“Our volunteers train for all types of sea and weather conditions and are ready to respond whenever their pagers go off, day or night. We were delighted to be able to assist this patient and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
