Baltimore RNLI called out for second island medivac in four days
Tuesday 22 September 2026
Baltimore RNLI volunteers have carried out their second medical evacuation from Sherkin Island in four days, following a call from the Irish Coast Guard this morning (Tuesday).
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched the station’s all-weather lifeboat at 9.20am after being requested to provide a medical evacuation for a man living on Sherkin Island, off Baltimore in west Cork.
The lifeboat, accompanied by two HSE Ambulance crew, arrived at the pier on Sherkin at 9.25am. Following an assessment by the paramedics, the casualty was brought aboard the lifeboat.
The lifeboat departed Sherkin Island at 9.38am and arrived back at Baltimore RNLI’s station at 9.48am, where the casualty was transferred to the waiting HSE Ambulance for further treatment.
Six volunteer crew members took part in the call-out. They were Coxswain Brendan Cottrell, Mechanic Jerry Smith and crew members Eoin Ryan, David Ryan, Micheal Cottrell and Don O’Donovan.
Conditions were calm during the operation, with a southerly Force 2 wind and a smooth sea state.
The call-out was the second medical evacuation carried out by Baltimore RNLI in just four days.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, September 20, the volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat following another request from the Irish Coast Guard, this time to assist a woman on Sherkin Island who had sustained injuries in a fall.
The six-person lifeboat crew, Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Micheal Cottrell and crew members Jerry Smith, Brian McSweeney, Maria Coleman and Stuart Musgrave, travelled to Sherkin with two HSE Ambulance crew.
They arrived at the island pier at 3am, where the HSE paramedics and a member of the Baltimore RNLI casualty care team assessed and treated the woman.
The lifeboat subsequently departed Sherkin and returned to Baltimore, arriving back at the station at 3.57am.
The latest call-out comes during an exceptionally busy period for the Baltimore volunteer lifeboat crew, with 12 medical evacuations carried out since the beginning of July.
The medivacs have involved people on Cape Clear and Sherkin Islands, including one call to an injured person aboard a yacht moored at Cape Clear.
Speaking following this morning’s operation, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Kate Callanan said the station regularly provides medical evacuations for people living on or visiting the islands around Baltimore.
“This summer has been particularly busy for our volunteer lifeboat crew,” she said.
“There have been 12 medivacs since the start of July. All of the medivacs were to people on Cape Clear and Sherkin Islands including one to an injured person aboard a yacht moored in Cape Clear.
“Please remember if you find yourself in a medical emergency whilst on an island call 999 or 112.”
The RNLI is reminding islanders and visitors that in a medical emergency they should contact the emergency services by calling 999 or 112.
