Injured fisherman airlifted from trawler off Kerry coast
An Irish Coast Guard helicopter airlifted an injured crew member from a fishing trawler off the south-west coast yesterday evening.
The 31m (100ft) Spanish registered vessel was about 70 nautical miles (130kms) south-west of Dingle, Co Kerry when the crew raised the alarm.
The Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, departed for the scene at around 7.30pm for the 80-minute flight to rendezvous with the vessel.
On reaching the trawler, a paramedic was winched onto the deck where the injured man was waiting to be assessed.
After receiving treatment, the fisherman was winched on board the helicopter and flown to Shannon Airport from where he was transported by road to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
It’s understood the crew member sustained a serious hand injury.
The fishing vessel is believed to have departed Burela in Spain on February 7 and arrived off the south-west coast on Sunday where it has been fishing since.
The operation was coordinated by watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue sub-centre on Valentia Island in Kerry.
