Man airlifted to hospital after suspected shark bite off Waterford coast

A multi-agency emergency rescue operation unfolded off the south coast of Ireland after a man suffered a suspected shark bite while on board a small vessel. The incident took place on a five-metre pleasure craft positioned approximately four miles off Ram Head, Ardmore, in County Waterford. Five individuals were on board the boat at the time the alarm was raised. Regional reports indicate that the man sustained a leg injury during the event.

Dublin Coast Guard coordinated the rapid deployment of emergency assets after receiving an alert. The Irish Coast Guard's Waterford-based helicopter, Rescue 117, was dispatched to the scene alongside the Ballycotton RNLI all-weather Trent-class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury, and the Youghal RNLI inshore lifeboat.

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According to logs from Ballycotton RNLI, the callout was triggered at 16:16 local time on Tuesday, 11 August. The all-weather lifeboat launched at 16:30 amid calm sea conditions and good visibility, arriving at the casualty vessel at approximately 17:10. Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 had already reached the location by the time the Ballycotton crew arrived. Both lifeboats stood by while emergency responders administered assistance.

The injured man was winched directly from the pleasure craft on board Rescue 117. He was subsequently airlifted to Cork University Hospital for emergency treatment and handed over into the care of the HSE, where he remains.

The remaining members of the group on board the pleasure craft did not require assistance. Their vessel subsequently returned safely to Dungarvan. Meanwhile, the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat returned to harbour at approximately 18:15 that evening. The vessel was refuelled, and the volunteer crew continued with their scheduled weekly training session.

Timeline of the Rescue Operation

• 16:16: Dublin Coast Guard receives an alert and requests the launch of Ballycotton RNLI to assist a five-metre pleasure craft four miles off Ram Head, Ardmore.
• 16:30: Ballycotton RNLI launches its all-weather Trent-class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury, amid calm conditions and good visibility.
• 17:10: Ballycotton RNLI arrives at the casualty vessel, joining Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 on the scene.
• Evacuation: The injured man is winched on board Rescue 117 and airlifted to Cork University Hospital for emergency treatment under the care of the HSE.
• 18:15: Ballycotton RNLI returns to harbour, refuels, and the volunteer crew continues with their scheduled weekly training session.

Ballycotton RNLI coxswain Eolan Walsh commented on the operation:

"This was a well-coordinated multi-agency response, with Ballycotton RNLI, Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 working together to ensure that the casualty received urgent medical assistance as quickly and safely as possible."

Eolan Walsh, Coxswain, via BBC

Mr Walsh also issued a safety warning following the incident, noting that conditions at sea can change quickly. He urged anyone heading offshore to prioritize safety by ensuring vessels are suitable, wearing properly fitted lifejackets or personal flotation devices, carrying reliable means of communication, and ensuring someone ashore knows their plans.

Marine incidents involving sharks remain uncommon in Irish waters, though previous encounters have been documented. In an incident from 2018, a Belfast man engaged in angling caught a Blue Shark and sustained a seriously injured lower arm while bringing it on board a boat. On that occasion, assistance was rendered by Crosshaven RNLI in Cork.