Leitrim Civil Defence – Search Operation – July 2013

23 July 2013

At 5pm on Saturday 20th July Leitrim Civil Defence was tasked by Malin Head Coastguard to respond to the scene of a swimmer in difficulty on Lough Allen. The Civil Defence Boat Crew was involved in a training exercise in the Carrick on Shannon area and was able to immediately depart to the search area.
The incident had occurred after a man and woman had left Drumshambo on a Boat in the late afternoon for a trip on Lough Allen. The man decided to go for a swim. However the boat lost power and drifted away leaving the man unable to reach the boat due to strong currents.
Approximately 30 minutes after tasking the Civil Defence Boat Crew and Coastguard Helicopter arrived on scene. The male swimmer was removed from the water by the helicopter and flown to Sligo General Hospital. The Civil Defence Boat Crew recovered the drifting boat and brought the woman ashore. The woman was examined by a Civil Defence Volunteer Doctor and then transported to Sligo Hospital to be reunited with her partner. The couple were later returned to Drumshambo by Civil Defence following the man’s release from hospital.

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