This evening (14/7/14) the Coast Guard emergency operations centre received calls about a swimmer injured while jumping off rocks at Balsadden in Howth.

Members of the Irish Coast Guard Cliff Rescue team at Howth were quickly on the scene and began to administer medical treatment to a male. He had suffered a back injury while jumping off 30 feet cliffs into the water. Further medical assistance arrived with Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics from Kilbarack, the two agencies worked together to stabilise the patient.

The Coast Guard helicopter from Dublin Airport, Rescue 116, arrived and winched the casualty up and evacuated him to hospital.

Jumping off high structures like bridges or cliffs into the water is jumping into the unknown with tides changing and unknown debris beneath the surface. There is risk of serious injury or worse.

Incident 46/14.

While training this morning on the Howth cliffs the team were advised by a member of the public of a dog who had collapsed.

A member from the team located the dog and his owner on the lower cliff path half way between the Bailey and Balscadden. One of the more unusual casualties to be carried in the stretcher the dog was recovered to the summit by the team where a relieved owner placed him in his car.

Speedy recovery from the team!

Last night (Monday 30/6/14) Howth RNLI lifeboat and Howth Coast Guard were tasked by the Dublin Coast Guard operations centre to an person needing assistance on the east pier in Howth. Both teams mobilised, for the 2nd night in a row to discover this was a another hoax call.

If the services were required to a genuine call at the same times lives could be lost as rescue assets were tied up. Gardaí are now dealing with matter.

Incident 45/14.

After 7pm today Howth Coast Guard and our colleagues in Skerries Coast Guard were tasked to an overdue Jet Ski. A search of the coastline from Howth to Rush was carried out. The jet skiers returned safely to Rush.

Incident 43/14

As the team were closing down at the station we were tasked along with Howth RNLIs ILB to a person in the water in Howth. Hoax call.

Incident 44/14

Howth Coast Guard were tasked tonight at 21.45 to stand by at the harbour for the arrival of a fishing vessel under tow. It was being towed by another fishing vessel after losing power off Howth. Howth Lifeboat was tasked to assist. Howth CG members took the mooring lines at the harbour and after checking all was ok with the vessels they were stood down.

Incident 42/14

While out on patrol today Howth Coast Guard boat came across a blow up dinghy with one adult in it in Dalkey sound. The person was picking up another adult and two kids it had dropped onto Dalkey island earlier. The Howth boat crew advised the person on their actions and took the group back to Collimore harbour from the island for their own safety. The craft was totally unsuitable and although all were wearing lifejackets a couple of them were not suitable for the journey.

Incident 41/14

Howth Coast Guard were tasked today to check on powerboat racing buoys at low rock Malahide today. A member of the public was concerned that they were placed too close to the swimming area. Howth checked and contacted the organisers who moved them further out to sea. Howth Coast Guard's boat also went to the area when afloat and confirmed all was okay.

Incident 40/14

At 7am this morning the unit was tasked to a heli landing at Beaumont. Patient was transferred to a HSE ambulance from R116.

Incident 39/14

Shortly before 7pm this evening the Irish Coast Guard operations centre received an emergency 999 call of two people stuck on cliffs at Balscadden on Howth Head.

Two men had been swimming in the area when they got caught out by strong currents but managed to reach nearby rocks. They attempted to climb the cliffs but quickly realised the scale of the climb, exhausted they held their position and shouted for help. A passing tourist was able to raise the alarm by getting to a nearby coffee shop who in turn called the Coast Guard.

The Irish Coast Guard Cliff Rescue team from Howth were tasked and were on the scene within minutes. 15 members of the team set up a cliff rescue and a rescue climber managed to reach the two casualities, get them secured and and with the rest of the team recover them up a steep incline to the  top.

Slightly shaken by the ordeal the two were checked out by Coast Guard medics and didn't require any further attention.



Incident 38/14

36/14 - Persons trapped on sand bar at Burrow Beach. Howth RNLI Inshore LB, CG Helicopter R116 and Howth CGU tasked. Persons made it ashore ok.

37/14 - Possible Swimmers in difficulty Killiney Beach. Howth CG boat responds from Dublin Bay along with Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard. Swimmers made it ashore unassisted.