Injured sailor rescued from ship off Galway

An injured crewman was taken by lifeboat from a freighter off the Galway coast to hospital early this morning.

An injured crewman was taken by lifeboat from a freighter off the Galway coast to hospital early this morning.

The sailor, a Dutch national who is understood to be suffering from head injuries sustained in an accident on board the Gibraltar-registered ship, was taken by the Aran Islands lifeboat to Rossaveal Harbour early this morning.

On reaching shore, the man was brought to University College Hospital, where he was said to be comfortable this afternoon.

An initial attempt by the Coastguard helicopter to airlift the man from the ship, around 12 miles off Slyne Head, had to be abandoned.

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The helicopter crew was unable to reach the injured man due to obstructions on the deck.