Sailor injured by boom
A SAILOR sustained head injuries when he was struck by a boom while sailing in Wicklow Bay on Sunday.
Initially, it was feared that his injuries were serious and that he would require a medical evacuation.
The yacht the injured sailor was aboard came into Wicklow Harbour, moored at the east pier and was met by first responders and a HSE paramedic, who boarded the vessel to treat the casualty.
The inshore lifeboat crew was alerted by pager just after 3.10 p.m. and requested to launch in case the sailor needed to be evacuated from the yacht to a more suitable location, where he could be transferred to an ambulance.
As the lifeboat – with Helm Alan Goucher and crew members Terry and Paul Sillery – was about to launch, Lifeboat Operations Manager Des Davitt was informed that the casualty was assisted onto the pier after being treated by paramedics and no further assistance was required. Thankfully, the man’s injuries were not as serious as at first feared.
The lifeboat crew was stood down and returned to the station.