Howth Coast Guard were contacted today by Gardai at 11.47 seeking assistance in the recovery of a dog which had fallen down the cliffs on the south side of Howth hill. Gardai were concerned that the owner may make an attempt to rescue the dog and get into trouble. A volunteer went to the scene to assess if a recovery could be made safely by the team and to offer advice. The dog had fallen 20m into a gully on the shore and access was not possible by foot due to the approaching tide. The dog’s injuries were not known but she was alive as the team could hear her bark.

The team assembled and went to the location at Drumleck point. It was decided that a recovery could be made by the unit with little risk to the members so a rope recovery system was set up on the cliff top above the dog. Two climbers descended and put the dog into the animal recovery bag and were hauled to the top. Ralph(female) was handed over to her owners at the top and was brought off to a vet to be checked. The team stood down at 14.15. Thanks to local residents who gave assistance with access to the cliffs.

Howth Coast Guard would like to remind the public that it may not always be possible to give assistance to animals especially if there is risk to the volunteers so please be careful when walking the cliffs with unleashed dogs as the cliffs are dangerous and sheer.

Incident 08/10

Howth Coast Guard were alerted at 14.55 today to a 999 call from a person trapped in mud in the Portmarnock area. Coast Guard helicopter rescue 116 from Dublin airport and Dublin Fire Brigade were also tasked. The volunteers assembled quickly at the station and proceeded to the scene.

As the unit arrived in the area rescue 116 was overhead conducting a search as the person was not local and did not give an accurate description of their location. The helicopter soon discovered the casualty in the Baldoyle estuary behind the Portmarnock Golf Club. Howth Coast Guard had two volunteers in dry suits standing by ready to recover the casualty as the helicopter lowered their winchman to assist. The casualty was lifted to the safety of the golf couse where the Coast Guard unit, the fire brigade and the Gardai were waiting. The casualty was assessed and required no medical assistance. The team transported the casualty to the stationhouse where they cleaned up and went on their way.

Incident 07/10

The casualty walked off the trawler unaided to a waiting ambulance and the team stood by in case any further assistance was required. Howth stood down at 22.30

Incident 06/10

Incident 05/10

Dublin Coast Guard are dealing with the matter and have reported it to Dublin City Council.

Incident 04/10

Howth Coast Guard were tasked tonight  at 19.01 to a 999 call from a person trapped on a beach on the South side of Howth peninsula near the Baily lighthouse. He and six others had gone down to the little used beach from the cliff path earlier and now were unable to get go back up to safety with approaching darkness and an incoming tide. They were reporting bad visability at about 30 metres due to low fog. One volunteer was sent on quickly to locate the casualties and the team assembled at the station. The team went to the Baily lighthouse, started a search and the casualties were located close by after about ten minutes.

Two volunteers went down to the beach by a little used path  known to the team and established communication with the top of the cliff. The path is unsuitable for unprepared members of the public to use unaided so a cliff top rope rescue system was set up to extricate the casualties.

In an operation that lasted 3 hours in total all casualties were brought to the top safely by the team. None of those assisted required any further medical treatment. The team stood down at 22.30

Incident 03/10

Incident 02/10

Howth Coast Guard volunteers stood by to assist and the casualty was removed to hospital by ambulance. The team stood down at 19.10.

Incident 01/10

Incident 69/09

Today at midday, Howth Coast Guard responded to the upper cliff sections near Howth Summit, where a car and driver had sustained a heavy impact after leaving the path and sliding approx 100m steeply down-hill to the cliff edge. After locating the car the sole occupant was stabilised by paramedics and then removed from the vehicle by DFB and Coast Guard personnel onto a spine board while Fire Brigade vehicle cutting tools and Coast Guard high-angle rope access equipment was transported to the remote area by helicopter lifts and 4×4’s as a stand-by.

Once removed from the car on the cliff edge, the casualty was airlifted to Tallaght hospital by the Dublin-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter.

Irish Times

RTE News

Breaking-News.ie

Thanks to the Dublin Fire Brigade, Howth Gardai, Garda Traffic Corps, the Dublin Coast Guard Helicopter crew, and local walkers who alerted the emergency services to the accident.

Incident 68/09