Doolin Coast Guard D-Class crew participated in some winching exercises in the Liscannor Bay area with the Shannon Coast Guard Helicopter crew. Crew were winched from the water, practicing hypothermic lifts and the Helicopter Winch-man also lowered a crew member back into the D-Class.

Doolin Coast Guard Unit was tasked to assist Killaloe Coast Guard Unit as a result of the rising water levels. Some boats needed to be moved to safer locations by Killaloe Coast Guard Unit in case they broke their moorings and blocked the bridge. Both D-Class boats and the Quad bike were taken by road to be available if needed.Team members assisted Killaloe Coast Guard in surveying the flooding down river and to assess if any action was needed in any of the areas.

Incident 45/09.

Members of Doolin Unit went to Killimer this morning to assist Ballybunion Coast Guard Unit in their ongoing search for a missing person.They started  at Killimer and searched along the Northern shore of the Shannon Estuary as far as Loop Head.

Incident 44/09

Doolin Coast Guard Unit have taken part in a climbing course over 3 days. Doolin was the first  of the Coast Guard climbing teams around the country to undergo this course , delivered by Mike O’Shea of  Work at Height Training Ltd, and his team of instructors. The unit was  instructed on a new climbing system and also individually assessed.The climbing was carried out at Ballyreen, while class instruction was delivered at Doolin Community Centre. On the last day the team were given a  rescue climbing scenario to work through using the new system.

At 09.15 Doolin Coast Guard members were tasked by MRCC Valentia, to an incident at Ballyreen, North of Doolin.A person had fallen into the sea from the rocks at Ballyreen Point while sea fishing,the sea was quite rough at the time , with high waves and strong winds . The Shannon based Coast Guard helicopter was  tasked.The Aran Islands Lifeboat was also tasked and on route The Doolin Coast Guard Unit was on a climbing course in the area at the time and members of the unit were on scene quickly and maintained a visual on the casualty in the water.Other team members returned to base and the Doolin Delta was taken by road to launch at Gleninagh Pier as conditions in Doolin were too rough to launch there. The Shannon Coast Guard helicopter arrived shortly after , their winchman was lowered to the sea and the casualty was taken from the water and airlifted to Galway University Hospital. The three other members of the group were taken care of by Doolin Coast Guard members,two of the group were treated for shock,  until the HSE ambulance arrived and they were also taken to the  hospital.

Sadly, the casualty later died at Galway University Hospital.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1107/rescue.html

43/09

Members of Doolin Coast Guard Unit have been undertaking courses in Mountain Skills Level 1 in the upland areas of the Burren and Mountain Skills 2 in the mountain areas of  Kerry, delivered by Nathan Kingerlee of Outdoors Ireland. The course covered navigation skills, map and compass , night navigation and steep ground work, all members found the course very worthwhile.

www.outdoorsireland.com

Some Members have also just completed a three day AECS/ISA Offshore Emergency Care course provided by the Academy of Emergency Care in Sport . Areas covered included marine emergencies and treating casualties when no further help is immediately available. Members updated their first aid skills , worked through scenarios and learned a lot from the course.