THE Arranmore RNLI volunteer crew are experiencing a busy summer with four calls in four days.
At 2am on Friday, July 31, the crew were requested by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist with a medical evacuation from the island for transfer to a waiting ambulance at Burtonport and on to Letterkenny University Hospital for assessment.
The second call was on Saturday morning, August 1 at 7.30am to a report of persons in a dingy. On assembly at the lifeboat station, the crew were informed by Malin Head Coast Guard that the people in the dingy were reported as safely arriving on shore and the crew were stood down.
On Monday, August 3, the crew were alerted twice by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist with two medical evacuations, the first at 11.22am and the second at 9.57pm. Both casualties were transferred to a waiting ambulance in Burtonport and on to Letterkenny University Hospital for assessment.
Coxswain Kieran O’Donnell said: “I would like to wish all the casualties a speedy recovery and thank the crew for answering the call whatever time day and night. Thank you also to the volunteer island ambulance crew for their professionalism and dedication.”
Arranmore Lifeboat Launch Operations manager Jerry Early appealed to the public to avoid parking in the designated lifeboat berth area at Arranmore and Burtonport and keeping the area clear of boats.
He said: “The crew and Operations team are asking all boat users to keep the lifeboat berth at the Ferry Pier on Arranmore and Burtonport free for emergencies.
“We ask for consideration on this as it is interfering with Medical evacuations from the island.
“Many of these medical evacuations are time sensitive, and patient welfare is one of our main priorities when transferring to Burtonport.
“Also, if we could ask for no parking of cars at the berth to allow the local ambulance crew to safely transfer the patient to the lifeboat. Thank you for your consideration.”