There was no Sunday morning lie-in for the volunteers of the Arranmore RNLI today.
The crew was called out to assist with a medical evacuation from the island at 8am this morning, after receiving a request for assistance from the Malin Head Coast Guard Centre.
Volunteer members of the Arranmore ambulance service were also involved, bringing the patient to Leabgarrow pier so they could be transferred onto the lifeboat.
The lifeboat then transferred the patient to an awaiting ambulance at Burtonport, and the patient was taken for assessment at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Relief coxswain, Sean Curtin and crew members, Mechanic Philip Mc Cauley, Sharon O’Donnell, Sean O’Donnell, Finbar Gallagher, Mickey Mc Hugh and Seán Gallagher returned to anchor at Arranmore after the early-morning shout.
Stand-in Coxwain Sean Curtin is from Valentia Island, and works as a regional resilience coxswain and mechanic with the RNLI.
Sean is involved in travelling to various RNLI stations in Ireland and further afield to fill in for local crews who are on leave.
Sean said “I would like to wish the patient a speedy recovery and thank the volunteer crew for responding so quickly to the call. I would also like to commend them on their efficiency and knowledge of the area which made my job very easy. They are a credit to the RNLI, as are the fist responders of the ambulance. Obviously, the volunteer ethic is very strong on Arranmore Island and I’m delighted to work alongside them once again.”