Community joy as man is rescued from Mayo cave after 21 hours
Clapping and brief whoops signalled a happy ending this afternoon to the ordeal of a man who had been trapped on a ledge in a cave on the north Mayo coast for 21 hours as the sea surged and ebbed below him.
As a Coast Guard helicopter lifted off from Downpatrick Head en route to hospital with the casualty – said to be reasonably well and in good spirits – a small group of his friends, some punching the air with delight, celebrated.
Nobody in the mixed group, however, would talk to reporters.
At low tide, the casualty – a man who resides in Mayo - was finally extricated from his rocky prison, less than several hundred metres from the world famous Dun Briste sea stack.
The man, who is in his 40s, was taken from the cave around 3.40 p.m. and was able to walk a short distance, according to Agatha Hurst, press officer with Ballyglass RNLI lifeboat.
With an ambulance standing by, the casualty had his medical condition assessed before the helicopter took off with him to Sligo University Hospital.
At low tide, just after 3 p.m., the joyful news emerged that the trapped man had been extricated from his rocky dungeon and was safe and well – apart from cold and hunger.
Rescuers speculated that the casualty might have succumbed to hypothermia were it not for the fact that he had been wearing a wet suit.
Garda Supt. Gabriel Moran briefed reporters on the positive outcome to the lengthy rescue operation which involved garda divers, members of the Irish Cave Rescue unit, Ballyglass RNLI lifeboat, members of the Irish Coastguard, gardai as well as local civilian volunteers including fishermen.
Supt. Moran explained that rescuers were able to keep in contact with the casualty throughout the long hours of darkness, shining a light into the cave and verbally reassuring him that help was on the way but would take some time until the tide receded.
The casualty had been walking the shoreline outside the cave with a female companion around 5.30 p.m. on Saturday when they got into difficulties.
Following a wave surge which carried them into the cave, the male managed to get onto a ledge.
His female companion was towed to safety by a number of kayakers who were boating in the area.
Agatha Hurst, press officer with Ballyglass RNLI, explained that every half hour since the start of the rescue, members of the lifeboat crew were in continuous contact with the casualty, shining lights into the cave and reassuring him that that every effort was being made to rescue him.
The cave at Downpatrick Head is well frequented during the summer months by photographers hoping to get an unusual shot of the local sea stack Dun Briste, a famous tourist attraction as are the soaring cliffs in the vicinity.
A statement issued by the Irish Coast Guard outlined: "The Irish Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) at Malin Head is pleased to report the safe rescue of the trapped individual from the cave at Downpatrick Head.
"The individual has been transferred to Sligo University Hospital by the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 from Sligo and is said to be well and in good spirits.
"The individual was rescued by the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation, supported by the Coast Guard Units from Killala/Ballyglass/Killybegs/Achill, the Ballyglass RNLI Lifeboat, National Ambulance Service, Civil Defence, County Fire Service and An Gardai Siochana, including the Gardai Water Unit, with a particular mention to the support of the local community at Downpatrick and North Mayo more generally.
"The Coast Guard would like to take this opportunity to recognise the professionalism and dedication of those involved in the successful operation and in particular the team from Irish Cave Rescue Organisation."