Coleraine Coastguard in Northern Ireland staged a dramatic rescue on Thursday, August 28 after an elderly man sustained an injury after crossing the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in Co Antrim.
"This afternoon, Coleraine and Ballycastle Coastguard Rescue Teams were tasked to assist NIAS [Northern Ireland Ambualnce Service] with the evacuation of a casualty on Carrick-a-rede island," Coleraine Coastguard said in a post on social media on Thursday.
"The casualty had crossed the world-famous rope bridge onto the island, had slipped and fallen sustaining a suspected lower leg fracture."
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Coleraine Coastguard continued: "The safest way to evacuate the casualty was by CG rescue helicopter R199 from Prestwick.
"In a delicate operation, the helicopter touched down on the precarious cliff top.
"The casualty was secured in our rope rescue stretcher and carried to the aircraft before being flown to a landing site at nearby Larrybane car park.
"The landing site was secured by additional Coastguard Officers.
"The casualty was transferred to a waiting ambulance."
CASUALTY EVACUATION : CARRICK-A-REDE This afternoon, Coleraine and Ballycastle Coastguard Rescue Teams were tasked to...
Posted by Coleraine Coastguard on Thursday, August 29, 2024
Coleraine Coastguard has responded to several injuries on Carrick-a-Rede island over the years.
In September 2023, they shared footage of a rescue undertaken after a person slipped on the rough terrain after crossing the bridge.
CASUALTY EVACUATION: CARRICK-A-REDE This afternoon, Ballycastle and Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Teams were tasked to reports of an injured person on Carrick-a-rede Island. After crossing the famous rope bridge, the casualty had slipped on the rough terrain, sustaining a lower leg fracture. Team members assisted a NIAS paramedic to stabilise and dress the limb. It was decided the safest method of evacuating the casualty from the island was by Coastguard Rescue helicopter R199 from Prestwick. The casualty was transferred to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.
Posted by Coleraine Coastguard on Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The rescue from Carrick-a-Rede island on Thursday came just two days after Coleraine Coastguard responded to another injury at another popular Northern Ireland tourist site - The Giant's Causeway.
"This afternoon, Coleraine and Ballycastle Coastguard Rescue Teams were tasked to assist NIAS with the evacuation of a casualty who had fallen on the main stones, sustaining a serious break to a lower leg," the coastguard said on social media on Tuesday.
"Moving a casualty from the Giants Causeway stones is always a difficult operation due to the uneven and sloppy terrain. After initial medical treatment, the casualty was secured in out rope rescue stretcher.
"Over twelve coastguard officers were then required to gently pass the casualty down to the waiting ambulance."
Coleraine Coastguard thanked the National Trust Staff for their help in "controlling the public."
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