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Updated at 8.15pm
THE IRISH COAST Guard helicopter has rescued a severely injured crewman from a Russian fishing vessel 140 miles off the coast of Kerry in difficult weather conditions.
The Shannon-based Rescue 115 helicopter was assisted in a search and rescue operation by the LÉ Róisín naval ship and the Waterford-based Rescue 117 helicopter.
Crew members from the LÉ Róisín boarded the Russian fishing vessel this afternoon and assisted in evacuating the crewman. It is believed he became injured in an accident involving fishing gear and may have suffered multiple broken bones.
Weather conditions were difficult for the long-range mission, with a strong west to south west swell and gusts of over 35mph.
Rescue 117 transported the injured crewman to University Hospital Limerick while Rescue 115 provided communication support and back up (known as top cover).
The mission was coordinated by the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia in Kerry.
A spokesperson for the Coast Guard that that this was the second operation in recent weeks where the LÉ Róisín assisted in an operation at sea.
Distress call
A distress call came from the vessel to the Dublin Marine Rescue Coordination Centre at about 9.30am this morning.
At the time the vessel was outside Irish Coast Guard’s search and rescue region, so it was passed onto the UK Coast Guard.
The UK requested the assistance of the Irish Coast Guard to carry out the mission and the Rescue 115 helicopter was tasked with the search and rescue.
The vessel came inside the Irish search and rescue region and the operation is now being coordinated by Valentia Coast Guard.
Rescue 115 began its journey at about 2pm this afternoon and arrived at University Hospital Limerick at about 7.30pm.
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