Thai cave rescuer helped in Mayo mission
ONE of the world’s most experienced divers who helped save 12 boys from a flooded cave in Thailand four years ago was part of the team involved in rescuing a man trapped in a Co. Mayo cave.
Jim Warny, a Belgian national who is based in Ennis, Co. Clare, was tasked to join dozens of other cave rescuers in Downpatrick Head, Mayo at the weekend.
The man, who is originally from Poland but living in Castlebar, was stranded inside a sea cave for 22 hours.
The alarm was raised at 6pm on Saturday, and a major search and rescue operation was launched involving gardaí, RNLI, the Coast Guard, Irish Cave Rescue and the Civil Defence.
The man, who is in his 40s, was swept into the cave along with a woman as the tide came in. The woman was rescued by a nearby kayaker but he was cut off by the tide in the cave overnight. He sheltered at the back of the cave to keep his head above water. Mr Warny, who has been diving in caves for more than 20 years, was one of the specialists who volunteered.
Contact was made with the trapped man in Downpatrick Head early into the rescue operation and he was constantly checked on by lifeboats throughout the night to ensure he was OK.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Michael Hurst of the Ballyglass Coast Guard said while he was safe inside the cave, the major concern was the risk of him developing hypothermia, but thankfully he survived the ordeal and was in ‘good form’ throughout the night.
He said: ‘Because of the layout of the cave, you have the wash coming in. So even high water or low water, you would have the tide rushing in and rushing out. So it just made it all the more difficult to actually get a boat in there to try and rescue him.’ Emergency services were on standby to treat the man as he arrived back on shore. He was tied to a rope and assisted up the side of the cliff. He was then taken to hospital for medical observation.
Mr Hurst added: ‘The cave rescue team actually climbed down from the top. They screwed in shackles into the side of the cave and attached ropes, so they managed to get in to him by utilising that. Then they were able to bring him out by rope.’
Mayo Garda Division Superintendent Gabriel Moran, who co-ordinated the operation, told RTÉ: ‘A huge debt of gratitude is owed to all those in the various services, particularly all the volunteers, who’ve given up the last 24 hours to be here.’
Mr Warny was called upon by the British Cave Rescue Council in July 2018 to assist with the international rescue of the 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in Thailand.