Mayo RNLI crew member in first call-out ahead of International Women’s Day

ACHILL Island RNLI responded to a request for assistance with the medical evacuation of a man on Inishturk on Tuesday.

The volunteer crew launched the station’s all-weather lifeboat Sam and Ada Moody shortly before 11 a.m. following a request from the Irish Coast Guard in Malin Head to assist the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 118, with the medical evacuation.

The crew were undertaking some training with three trainee crew members on the lifeboat’s moorings when the pagers went off. The trainees, Karen Arnold, her husband Andrew Arnold and Alex Blackmun, were then able to participate in the call-out with three other crew members.

Weather conditions were good at the time as they travelled the distance of approximately 12 nautical miles to Inishturk, where the crew observed the helicopter, which had already arrived on the island, and then proceeded to assist with preparing the casualty for an airlift, and securing the area to facilitate a safe take-off for the helicopter.

The lifeboat then returned to Achill Island, arriving at 2 p.m.

Speaking following the call-out, Dave Curtis, Achill Island RNLI Coxswain, said: “We were delighted to be able to work with our colleagues in the Irish Coast Guard to carry out this medical evacuation and we would like to wish the patient well. This was a wonderful opportunity for our three trainee crew members who were diverted from a training exercise to this call-out, and ahead of International Women’s Day, we want to particularly congratulate Karen Arnold on her first service for Achill Island RNLI.”