Downpatrick Head

Coast Guard helicopter, RNLI lifeboat, fire service, civil defence and cave rescue all involved in operation.

His woman companion was towed to safety by a number of kayakers who were boating in the area. The casualty had been walking the shoreline outside the cave with a woman companion at about 5.30pm on Saturday when they got into difficulties. Clapping and brief whoops signalled a happy ending on Sunday afternoon to the ordeal of a man who had been trapped on a ledge in a cave on the north Mayo coast for 21 hours as the sea surged and ebbed below him.

Gardaí said emergency services remain at the scene in the Downpatrick Head area of Mayo.

A kayaker managed to bring the woman to safety soon afterwards, but the man remained on a ledge in the cave overnight until now. It's thought the man was swept into the cave, along with a woman, as the tide came in. The 40-year-old spent almost 22 hours on a ledge in the cave at Downpatrick Head, after being swept into the area during high tide on Saturday evening.

A number of Coast Guard Units are currently at the scene along with the RNLI Lifeboat from Ballyglass, the Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter from Sligo, Mayo County ...

Rescuers speculated that the casualty might have succumbed to hypothermia were it not for the fact that he had been wearing a wet suit. He had earlier today been described as being “in good spirits” as the major rescue operation got underway. “He is high up. There was a great sense of relief amongst the on-lookers who clapped as it emerged he was safe. He is very lucky. The rescue brought an end to the ordeal of the man who had been trapped on a ledge in the cave for 21 hours as the sea surged and ebbed below him.

AN operation is continuing in north Mayo this morning to rescue a man trapped in a sea cave.

AN operation is continuing in north Mayo this morning to rescue a man trapped in a sea cave. Efforts continuing to rescue man trapped in Mayo sea cave

Attempts are being made this morning to rescue a man trapped in a sea cave along the North Mayo coastline. RTE News is reporting that the individual was one ...

He had been sheltering on a ledge in a cave at Downpatrick Head since 6pm on Saturday.

We would also continue to advise all persons who enter into caves or go hillwalking etc around the country to ensure they do so safely and have the correct equipment with them. He has been removed to Sligo University Hospital for treatment and assessment. A woman was also trapped along with the man. Mayo has been located safely this afternoon Sunday 18th September, 2022. “We are absolutely ecstatic," she told Newstalk. "There was a huge big sigh of relief that passed through the crowd fairly quickly when the good news started to come through that he had been rescued.