Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Well done IRCG and IAC

  • 24-12-2009 1:29pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,266
    ✭✭✭


    Brilliant to know that if they were ever needed they are always there!

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1223/1224261160910.html

    Third long-range helicopter rescue in week
    LORNA SIGGINS Marine Correspondent

    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.


Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,160 TheNog
    ✭✭✭


    Amazing job by all crews. I can only imagine the seriousness of the risks involved undertaking those rescues. IMO no amount of money could compensate them for the work they do.

    My greatest respect to ye all who this week in week out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,266 Steyr
    ✭✭✭


    LORNA SIGGINS Marine Correspondent

    THE IRISH Coast Guard air/sea rescue service has marked its busiest year on record, and says changing climate has had a major influence on its activities.

    The helicopter bases recorded 506 missions this year to date, flying from Shannon, Sligo, Dublin and Waterford.

    Crews in all four bases were called out over the Christmas weekend.

    Dublin’s crew and Howth Coast Guard were involved with the fire service in the rescue of a woman whose car slid 100m downhill from Howth Summit on December 26th.

    This year’s figure follows 450 missions last year, and 459 missions in both 2007 and 2006.

    Some 10 per cent of the tasks involved island medical evacuations – one of which was completed in a force 11 gale.

    Earlier this month, three long-range missions completed by Shannon and Waterford crews involved flying to the edge of fuel limits to rescue injured fishermen and transport them to hospital in Cork.

    Extreme weather, including more intense winds and flooding, was a feature of this year’s activity, Irish Coast Guard chief pilot Daithí Ó Cearbhalláin told The Irish Times.

    “Climate change is definitely playing its part, with more people getting caught out in weather, and we expect this is only going to increase,” he said.

    “Weather events predicted for every 50 years may now occur every 10, and this is something that will affect all those involved in rescue – both offshore and on land.”

    Winch crews with the four helicopter bases are trained to paramedic status.

    This allows winch crews to administer certain types of treatment en route to hospital. Irish Coast Guard crews are also involved regularly in cross-Border missions.

    Shannon, the “oldest” base in the Irish Coast Guard helicopter network, run by CHC, marked its 20th anniversary this year.

    Following a successful campaign initiated by Donegal woman Joan McGinley in 1988, the first dedicated west coast air-sea base was established with an Air Corps Dauphin helicopter in September 1989.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8 Orca73


    It's a fantastic service alright but why are crews who are often so far off the coast like the three jobs mentioned, 5 hours, 190 miles off and so on, at Paramedic level would it not make more sense to have them as Advanced Paramedics, Intubation, set up IV lines, advanced Cardiac drugs, or are the crews allowed to do this anyway ?????? because of the remote environment they work in.
    But regardless of qualifications hats off to the crews who are going out there and doing the job in such a remote and what sounds like extreme environment, and I wish them all a safe and peacefull new year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,957 Hooch
    ✭✭✭


    Orca73 wrote: »
    It's a fantastic service alright but why are crews who are often so far off the coast like the three jobs mentioned, 5 hours, 190 miles off and so on, at Paramedic level would it not make more sense to have them as Advanced Paramedics, Intubation, set up IV lines, advanced Cardiac drugs, or are the crews allowed to do this anyway ?????? because of the remote environment they work in.
    But regardless of qualifications hats off to the crews who are going out there and doing the job in such a remote and what sounds like extreme environment, and I wish them all a safe and peacefull new year.

    The main reason would be the amount of time needed in training......and the fact HSE A/Ps would be better paid with O/T and A/P allowance;)

    Also on that if they are that far out they are in international waters.......what ever goes out there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,783 maglite
    ✭✭✭


    The should people pay thread raised this question in my head.

    WHere would you find out the total cost of the contract and the total air hours involved?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,957 Hooch
    ✭✭✭


    maglite wrote: »
    The should people pay thread raised this question in my head.

    WHere would you find out the total cost of the contract and the total air hours involved?

    Government tenders website for the new extended contract due next year.

    Total air time is a good one. I suppose CHC (the current holders of the contract) or IrCG Hq in Leeson Lane would oblige.

    They fly at least an hour per 24 hours tour for training purposes. And then calls on top of that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,938 deadwood
    ✭✭✭


    Steyr wrote: »
    .... co-pilot Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh ...

    "And here he is now being winched up by the tacticals; Enrique San Subutteo. His father was also a fisherman from Valencia, not the Kerry one, mind. He won't be best pleased with his performance today, but i've no doubt he'll be back in Irish waters again."


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,266 Steyr
    ✭✭✭



    They fly at least an hour per 24 hours tour for training purposes. And then calls on top of that.

    The Shannon guys are usually up longer than that for training too id imagine the rest are too, hats off to everylast one of them be it IRCG/IAC/RNLI/HSE/AGS/FIRE/CD great bunch of people indeed, and im proud to know quite a few!


Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
Advertisement