The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Derrynane Inshore crew rescue injured WWII vet
A 92-YEAR-OLD World War II veteran spent a night in pain after falling at his isolated Kerry home because he didn’t want to disturb anyone.
The elderly war veteran – who served in Burma – was injured when he slipped and subsequently fell outside his home on the tiny wooded island of Einaun in Sneem Harbour.
Though the accident happened on Sunday the war veteran – who suffered a fractured or dislocated hip in the fall – waited until Monday to call for help as he didn’t want to disturb people on a Sunday.
When he did call for help on Monday morning he contacted the Coast Guard at Valentia who immediately dispatched the Derrynane Inshore Rescue service to the scene.
The Derrynane service was alerted at 9.47am on Monday and the crew, under chief coxswain Michael Donnelly was in the water within five minutes.
A four strong stretcher team joined the Derrynane crew in the rescue rib and they made their way to the island which is located about a mile offshore.
The Derrynane crew also transferred a medic to the island to help the casualty who was brought to shore at Oysterbed Pier near Sneem.
From there he was transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Kerry where he is now recovering from his injuries.
The emergency situation was resolved by 11.28am.