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The Waterford based Coast Guard Helicopter R117 has located and recovered two casualties from an overturned recreational vessel approximately 165 miles West SouthWest of Mizen Head, County Cork. The incident was co-ordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia. The alarm was raised by the activation of an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). The two casualties were successfully airlifted on board Rescue 117 earlier this afternoon and are being transferred to Tralee Hospital.

Speaking about the rescue Coast Guard’s SAR Manager Gerard O’Flynn: “It highlights that if you can raise the alarm and stay afloat then you stand a very good chance of being rescued. I also want to compliment the Helicopter crew and Valentia on a very successful operation and thank the Air Corps for their support.”

It is believed the casualties had been trying to row across the Atlantic and has recently left Canada.

The CASA C253 provided ‘Top Cover’.