The Sligo based Coast Guard helicopter, R118, has completed the medical evacuation of an injured crewman from a large tanker some 350 KM off Eagle Island Co Mayo. The overnight operation was jointly coordinated with the UK Coastguard who had initially been alerted by the tanker which was on a trans-Atlantic voyage to the Orkney Islands. Weather conditions on scene were described as reasonable with North Westerly winds of up to 40KM per hour.

The injured crewman was airlifted by the Coast Guard helicopter shortly before 8am  this morning and the helicopter arrived back in Sligo around 10.30am  where he will be transferred to Sligo University Hospital.