Irish Coastguard Helicopter Lost At Sea 3/14/2017

IRISH

IRISH

Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
862
Devastating news from Ireland this morning. 1 of our 4 Irish Coastguard Helicopters 'Rescue 116' Dublin Based Search & Rescue Helos was lost off the coast of County Mayo just before 01:00hrs Irish time with a crew of 4 on board. The Irish Coastguard Control Room received a Distress call from a fishing vessel out in the Altantic and 'Rescue 118' from Sligo was tasked to the incident with Rescue 116 providing Top Cover

Whilst returning to Blacksod for refueling and upon approach all contact was lost with the Rescue Helo. A Full Scale Emergency Search & Rescue Operation was activated and upon reaching the last known position of the Helo an RNLI Lifeboat came upon a large debris

1 Crew Member was taken from the water and rushed to a County Mayo Hospital but sadly died from her injuries. She Was Captain Dara Fitzpatrick the most Senior Irish Coastguard Helo Captain with 20+ yrs on the job. She is survuved by her 3 y/o son father mother brother and sisters

her 3 other crew members are still missing (now over 24hrs). They are winchman Paul Ormsby, Pilot Mark Duffy and winchman Ciar?n Smith. Pilot Mark Duffy previously worked with the California Coast Guard in San Francisco for seven years after doing his training in the US

I ask you keep the families friends and colleagues of Captain Fitzpatrick, winchman Paul Ormsby, Pilot Mark Duffy and winchman Ciar?n Smith in your thoughts



 
Very tragic loss to their families and friends, as well as the people of Ireland. May they Rest in Peace.
 
Last Friday 24th March the Body of Captain Mark Duffy was discovered in the wreckage of the Coastguard Helicopter 60m below the water surface off the coast of Mayo

Weather conditions delayed the retrieval of the body until Sunday 26th March. He was brought ashore by the Irish Coastguard and a Guard of Honour by members of the Irish Coastguard, Rescue Workers & Locals met the hearse as it was led away from the Pier

Capt Mark Duffy was buried today. He leaves behind a wife and 2 children. Capt Duffy also worked for the US Coastguard in California earlier in his career

The Search for the Final 2 Crewmen Winch Operator Ciaran Smith & Winch Operator Paul Ormsby is still ongoing. Recovery efforts are delayed again due to bad weather in the Atlantic. Recovery Crews hope to lift the wreckage in the hope the bodies are in / around / under the wreckage

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top