The RNLI all-weather lifeboat based in Rosslare Harbour was launched by her volunteer crew at 10.38 pm on Saturday, March 2nd to assist a passenger onboard an Irish Ferries ship bound for Pembroke in Wales.
The Irish Ferry, Oscar Wilde, which was located 20 miles off the Wexford coast and travelling to Pembroke in Wales, asked for assistance in evacuating a passenger who had become ill.
Sea conditions were unfavourable for the Rosslare Harbour lifeboat to go alongside the ferry. The Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 from Waterford was also tasked and quickly arrived on scene. After attempts to airlift the casualty it was deemed too dangerous.
The Oscar Wilde ferry returned to Rosslare Europort at 1 am where an ambulance was waiting to bring the casualty to hospital.
The RNLI volunteers in their Severn class lifeboat stood by the passenger ferry for the duration.
Sea conditions were very poor with a strong force 7 to 8 gale and heavy rain.
Coxswain Eamonn O’Rourke commented that the volunteer crew of the lifeboat had to endure very challenging conditions.
Speaking afterwards, Rosslare Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, David Maloney, said: “Conditions at sea tonight were challenging for our Coxswain and lifeboat crew and I would like to commend them for their efforts in enduring a rough passage in the dark and late at night on a Saturday evening to be of assistance.”