Main pic: The dramatic moment rescuers entered the narrow cave to retrieve the trapped kayaker. Pic and video: Brian McGowan/Brimac Security.
It has emerged that a drone was used to locate a missing kayaker who was stranded in a narrow, deep coastal cave in west Donegal yesterday.
Arranmore RNLI led the complex and dangerous rescue at nearby Owey.
The crew were tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard at 2:50pm to reports of a kayaker in difficulty on rocks at Owey Island, a five minute journey from the RNLI Station.
On arrival at the scene, the lifeboat was joined by the Bunbeg Coast Guard boat, the Coast Guard Rescue 118 helicopter from Sligo and local boats. The lifeboat located the empty kayak and proceeded to search around Owey and the wider area for the missing kayaker but was unable to locate him.
Arranmore RNLI mechanic, Philip McCauley, suggested to Malin Head Coast Guard that the caves at Owey Island was a popular exploration spot for kayakers and canoes.
As a result, they proceeded to search the area where the casualty was finally located by the Bunbeg Coast Guard drone.
The kayaker was going to explore the cave when a large swell backed him into the opening, overturned his boat and tossed him onto the rocks. He had managed to alert the Coast Guard and clung onto the rocks until he was finally located by the lifeboat at around 5pm.
Sea conditions made the rescue more difficult, with a high ground swell and breaking surf. As the tide turned and sea conditions improved, the lifeboat launched the Y boat – a small inflatable daughter boat capable of entering shallow water and small confined areas.
It was launched from the stern of the lifeboat with volunteer crew members Evan O’Donnell and JJ O’Donnell on board and they proceeded into the cave where they brought the casualty on board and transferred him to the lifeboat for assessment – watch the dramatic moment here.
Arranmore RNLI and Bunbeg Coast Guard working side by side during yesterday’s daring rescue.
The lifeboat then transferred him to the Bunbeg Coast Guard boat who took him ashore and he was subsequently taken on board Rescue 118 for transfer to Letterkenny University Hospital.
Arranmore RNLI crew on the service were, Coxswain Seán O’Donnell, Mechanic Philip Mc Cauley, volunteer crew members, Aisling Cox, Evan O’Donnell, JJ O’Donnell, Jamie Neeson,Sharon O’Donnell and Mickey Dubh Mc Hugh.
Speaking on return from service, lifeboat mechanic Philip McCauley said they were really pleased at the positive outcome of this call.
“I would particularly like to commend our two crew members, JJ O’Donnell and Evan O’Donnell, who were in charge of the Y boat in challenging sea conditions and brought the casualty to safety,” he said.
“They did a fantastic job and we are lucky to have crew members of their calibre on board the crew. All our volunteer crew members are very dedicated and don’t hesitate to answer the call to save lives.”
Coxswain Sean O’Donnell also thanked the boats from the local area who provided assistance in the search.
“This was a great joint effort with the Bunbeg Coast Guard boat, Rescue 118 and all the boats who took part in this rescue. It was this joint cooperation between all the rescue services and the local boats that was instrumental in bringing a positive outcome in the search and saving the life of the man.”
The volunteer Arranmore RNLI crew were also called out on Saturday at 6.40pm to a medical evacuation from the island. They transferred the patient to a waiting ambulance in Burtonport to be brought to Letterkenny University Hospital for assessment.
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