Clare Search & Rescue

31 January 2018

Members of the Clare Civil Defence Swiftwater Rescue Team and Boat Crew effected a rescue of a man from the River Fergus in Clarecastle at 11pm on Tuesday 30^th January 2018.

Clare Civil Defence were contacted by An Garda Siochána at 9.30pm following reports of a man trapped in mud plains close to Clarecastle Quay. Clare Civil Defence were tasked to launch a boat in order to effect a search & rescue. Members of the Boat Crew and the Swiftwater Rescue Team were activated immediately and arrived at the launch site at 9.55pm. A dynamic risk assessment was carried out and due to an extremely low tide and an unsafe launch site it was deemed unsafe to launch the boat.  Valentia Coast Guard was contacted in order to task Rescue 115 to assist with the search.

Whilst the helicopter was being activated the Civil Defence members planned and carried out a co-ordinated ground search of the area.  After an extensive search the missing man was found at 10.50pm by Civil Defence members in an extremely hypothermic & exhausted condition. The man was safely retrieved from the mud flats, evacuated to safer ground and treated by Civil Defence Medics before being handed over to the National Ambulance Service for further treatment and transport to the Limerick Emergency Department. He is currently recovering in Limerick Emergency Department.

The Civil Defence crew was stood down and returned to base at 11.30pm. Following a very professional and coordinated search & rescue operation, all members involved are highly commended for their actions.

 

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