A British navy rating who became ill on a nuclear submarine in transit through Irish waters was airlifted to safety early yesterday by the Irish Coast Guard.
The rescue was undertaken by the Sligo-based Sikorsky medium-range helicopter in difficult weather conditions about 160 kilometres off the northwest coast just before first light at 7am.
Malin Coast Guard in north Donegal co-ordinated the operation, but was asked by the British ministry of defence not to release or comment on any details on the incident.
The alert was raised late on Thursday night when a rating developed chest pains which required immediate medical assessment in hospital.
It is understood that the nuclear-powered submarine agreed to approach the Irish coastline to facilitate the rescue, given the weather conditions.
The rating was winched off by the Sligo helicopter crew, hovering over eight-metre high waves and fresh to strong south-to-southwest winds. Top cover was provided by an RAF Nimrod aircraft. The rating was flown to Sligo General Hospital.
Nuclear-powered submarines are not permitted within the 12-mile territorial limit, although the Government has no way of detecting their presence unless they surface. Ireland's economic zone extends to 200 miles off the coast, and foreign vessels have the right of innocent passage under international law.
The British ministry of defence confirmed that a rating was flown to hospital by the Irish Coast Guard and said it was "very grateful for the assistance". However, a defence ministry spokeswoman would not confirm the name of the submarine, the position of the rescue or any details of the vessel's passage, for "operational reasons". The rating is expected back in Britain on release from hospital in Sligo.