Man rescued by lifeboat crew after fall in Co Antrim

The man fell at 2.30am and landed close to rocks beside the lifeboat station in Cushendall.

A community action plan was quickly was put into action and the lifeboat crew was paged to provide first aid.

Crew members along with an off-duty paramedic were quickly on scene where they assessed the casualty who had suffered a broken thigh.

Using the station’s first aid pack complete with oxygen and Entonox, the lifeboat crew worked with the paramedic in challenging conditions to stabilise the man and stretcher him to the lifeboat station in an operation lasting over an hour.

The man was later transferred by ambulance to the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.

Paddy McLaughlin, Red Bay RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat press officer said: “The man was very unfortunate to fall where he did last night and we would like to wish him a speedy recovery from his ordeal.

“This was a great example of a community working well together to come to someone’s aid. Many will associate Red Bay RNLI with the water but this incident proved how having people with the right skills and training with the essential first aid equipment including oxygen and Entonox, can rescue someone in need.

“This was the second incident that Red Bay RNLI responded to this weekend. On Saturday evening just before 6pm, the lifeboat crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat after a member of the public spotted two canoeists who they thought to be in trouble in the Murlough Bay area near Fair Head which is known to be dangerous.

“The lifeboat crew checked the canoeists were safe and well before allowing them to continue unaided.”