The volunteer crew of Arranmore RNLI were kept busy over a five-day period in mid-July, answering four call-outs from Malin Head Coast Guard, including three medical evacuations and a precautionary search for a person reported in the water.
Sequence of call-outs
The first alert arrived on the evening of Wednesday 15 July when a member of the public reported a possible sighting of someone in the sea about half a mile from the lifeboat station. The lifeboat launched and conducted an extensive search for around 45 minutes but found no evidence of anyone in difficulty.
“Having searched the area thoroughly and found no evidence of anyone in trouble, we concluded that this was possibly a false alarm with good intent. The person who reported the incident did the right thing and I commend them,”
said Coxswain Kieran O’Donnell, reiterating the importance of calling emergency services if someone is seen in difficulty on the coast or water.
The following day, Thursday 16 July, the lifeboat answered a request to assist an injured person on Iniskeel island off Portnoo. On arrival, the Coast Guard helicopter from Sligo was already airlifting the casualty for further assessment, and the lifeboat returned to station after refuelling in Burtonport.
On Friday 17 July at 21:12 the crew attended an incident on Inniscoo island to assist an injured person. A later operation on Sunday involved a medical evacuation from Arranmore itself, with the casualty transferred to a waiting ambulance in Burtonport for assessment at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Local impact and safety message
The series of jobs highlights the ongoing role of volunteer lifeboat crews in providing urgent maritime and coastal assistance to scattered island and mainland communities. The coxswain praised the public who reported the initial possible sighting, describing it as a “false alarm with good intent”.
- Number of call-outs: 4
- Medical evacuations: 3
- Search for person in sea: 1 (no casualty found)
| Date | Incident | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 15 July | Search for possible person in water (45-minute search) | Half a mile from Arranmore lifeboat station |
| 16 July | Assisted injured person (helicopter airlifted) | Iniskeel island |
| 17 July | Assisted injured person | Inniscoo island |
| 19 July (Sunday) | Medical evacuation to ambulance for hospital assessment | Arranmore to Burtonport / Letterkenny |
Residents and visitors in coastal areas are reminded to dial 999/112 and ask for the Coast Guard if they see someone in difficulty on the water or along the shore. The Arranmore crew’s response underlines how volunteer teams, working with the Coast Guard and air assets, provide critical lifesaving support across the region.
