THE IRISH COAST Guard is conducting a medical evacuation of a passenger from a cruise ship off the west of Ireland coast.
The Department of Transport in Ireland Malin Rescue Coordination Centre received an early morning request from the UK Maritime Coast Guard Agency.
The operation with the Marco Polo cruise ship took place almost 200 miles west of Erris Head off Co Mayo shortly before 8.30am this morning.
The passenger is said to be in need of 'urgent medical attention.'
The Coast Guard helicopter was on route to University Galway Hospital, but due to weather conditions R118 re-routed to Sligo Airport.
The patient was then transported by ambulance to Sligo University Hospital.
An Air Corps Casa maritime patrol aircraft had been made available to provide communications and surveillance back up, known as ‘Top Cover’ but had to be redeployed to conduct two separate patient transfers to Britain, on foot of a request from National Ambulance Service.
This role was reassigned to the Dublin based Coast Guard helicopter R116.
*This article was update at 12.13pm to reflect a change in the Coast Guard operation.
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