A MAN who was airlifted to hospital from the south Connemara shoreline yesterday was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital.
The man, who was named locally as Colm Ó Cualáin (53), a member of a champion currach-racing team in Carraroe, was recovered from the sea off Carraroe yesterday morning.
The Irish Coast Guard Costello Bay unit was alerted, along with a Health Service Executive West ambulance crew and administered emergency medical assistance.
The Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter was tasked to fly the man to hospital, due to his condition. However, in spite of intense medical efforts, the man was pronounced dead on arrival at University College Hospital,Galway (UCHG).
The Irish Coast Guard’s Dublin helicopter also flew on a cross-border mission in the last 24 hours to assist a group of climbers who were in difficulty in the Mourne mountains.
Belfast Coast Guard requested the assistance, and the climbers were found on a rockface by using the helicopter’s forward-looking infra-red camera. The helicopter then illuminated the area to allow the Mourne mountain rescue team and police to reach the climbers.
The call-outs bring to 508 the number of missions flown to date by the Irish Coast Guard air/sea rescue helicopter crews – breaking all records set to date for the four bases at Dublin, Shannon, Waterford and Sligo.
Extreme weather, including more intense winds and flooding, had been a significant feature of this year’s activity, Irish Coast Guard chief crewman Daithí Ó Cearbhalláin told The Irish Times.
All four bases will be on constant standby for increased inshore activity during the current cold weather spell. “Climate change is definitely playing its part, and we expect this is only going to increase,” Mr Ó Cearbhalláin 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,” he added.