Ardglass man is recovering after dramatic rescue

Ardglass man is recovering after dramatic rescue

4 January 2017

AN Ardglass man is in a stable condition in hospital after a major rescue operation over the Christmas holidays.

Mr Sheamus Agnew fell over 30 feet on to rocks while out walking at Ardglass Golf Club just after lunchtime on Tuesday, December 27.

The 57 year-old fell from a cliff into a gorge known locally as The Canyon, close to the second tee, sustaining serious injuries.

A major multi-agency rescue swung into operation involving the Coastguard, Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service, RNLI and PSNI, which ended with the man being airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

During the dramatic rescue operation, paramedics treated the man at the foot of the cliff. 

Portaferry Lifeboat crew landed nearby and were ready to transport the man by sea to Ardglass harbour before it was decided the sea conditions were too rough.

A UK Coastguard helicopter from Caerphilly in Wales, which had been on a training exercise, was diverted to the scene as the Fire and Rescue Service and Coastguard cliff rescue teams prepared to evacuate the casualty to the top of the cliff.

With the helicopter waiting on the first fairway of the golf course, the victim was gently lifted to the top of the cliff under the care of cliff technicians from the Fire and Rescue Service and the Coastguard.

After further treatment from the Ambulance Service, the man was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. 

Coastguard teams from Newcastle, Kilkeel and Portaferry, Fire and Rescue Service crews from Downpatrick, Newcastle and Belfast were involved in the operation.

Dawn Petrie, Senior Maritime Operations Officer with the Coastguard, said the man had been out walking on the golf course when he had “an unfortunate fall.”

“We tasked Coastguard teams from Newcastle, Kilkeel and Portaferry along with Portaferry lifeboat,” she said.

“Once they were on scene and assessed the man’s condition along with the paramedics, they deemed the safest way to transport him to hospital was by helicopter.”

Victor Spence, Fire Service group commander for the Portadown area, said two fire engines were mobilised from Downpatrick and Newcastle along with a special rescue team from Belfast.

“They scaled down the face of the cliff, a male was put into a stretcher and then raised up by the rescue team,” he said.

“We worked closely with the Coastguard after he was assessed by paramedics and then airlifted to hospital.”

Mr Spence added that conditions along the cliff had been quite windy.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday described Mr Agnew’s condition as stable.

A spokesman for Ardglass Golf Club said: “Everyone at Ardglass Golf Club, members and staff, wish him well and hope he has a speedy recovery.”