A man was airlifted to hospital on Tuesday, 12 August 2026, after suffering a suspected shark bite while on a small boat off the south coast of Ireland. The vessel, a five-metre pleasure craft carrying five people, was around four miles off Ram Head, Ardmore, in County Waterford, when the incident occurred. Multiple emergency services, including the Irish Coast Guard's Rescue 117 helicopter and lifeboats from Ballycotton and Youghal RNLI, took part in the rescue.
According to the national broadcaster RTÉ, the injured man sustained a leg injury as a result of the bite. He was winched aboard the Waterford-based Rescue 117 helicopter and flown to Cork University Hospital, where he was handed into the care of the Health Service Executive. As of the latest update, he remained in hospital.
How did the rescue operation unfold?
Ballycotton RNLI in Cork said it was alerted at 16:16 local time by Dublin Coast Guard, which requested assistance for the five-metre pleasure craft carrying five people. The station's all-weather Trent-class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury, launched at 16:30 and reached the scene at approximately 17:10 amid calm seas and good visibility, according to a statement from the station.
"With calm sea conditions and good visibility, the lifeboat arrived on scene at approximately 5.10pm,"
By the time the lifeboats arrived, Youghal RNLI's inshore boat and Rescue 117 were already at the scene. The injured man was airlifted directly from the boat to Cork University Hospital, while the two lifeboats remained on standby throughout the operation. Ballycotton RNLI returned to harbour at around 18:15, refuelled, and its volunteer crew went on to complete their scheduled weekly training session.
What happened to the boat and those on board?
Citing the Irish Times, the casualty vessel later returned safely to Dungarvan under its own power, after which both lifeboats were stood down. This detail was not included in the Irish Coast Guard's own statement on the incident.
What has the RNLI said about the response and safety at sea?
Eolan Walsh, the coxswain on duty for Ballycotton RNLI, described the operation as a successful example of cooperation between agencies.
"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,"
He added that the incident should serve as a reminder of how quickly sea conditions can change and urged people heading offshore to prepare accordingly.
"Incidents such as this are a reminder that conditions at sea can change quickly and that anyone heading offshore should make safety a priority. Ensure your vessel is suitable for the conditions, wear a properly-fitted lifejacket or personal flotation device, carry a reliable means of communication, and make sure someone ashore knows your plans."
Have there been similar incidents off the Irish coast before?
Shark bites remain extremely rare in Irish waters. In 2018, a man from Belfast was seriously injured after a Blue Shark he had caught while angling bit him as he attempted to bring it aboard his boat off County Cork; his lower arm was badly hurt, and Crosshaven RNLI assisted in the response. Separate reporting has noted that blue shark bites, while uncommon, have also been recorded elsewhere, including in Italy, according to Tracking Sharks.
The Irish Coast Guard confirmed details of the latest incident in a statement to RTÉ.
"The Coast Guard's Waterford based helicopter, Rescue 117, was tasked to the scene, as well as the Ballycotton RNLI all weather lifeboat and the Youghal RNLI inshore lifeboat. The man was winched on board... Rescue 117, and taken to Cork University Hospital and handed over into the care of the HSE. He's still in hospital,"
Key Facts
- Incident occurred on 12 August 2026, roughly four miles off Ram Head, Ardmore, County Waterford.
- Five people were aboard a five-metre pleasure craft when the suspected shark bite happened.
- The injured man suffered a leg injury and was winched aboard Rescue 117 for transfer to Cork University Hospital.
- Ballycotton RNLI, Youghal RNLI and Rescue 117 coordinated the multi-agency rescue.
- The casualty vessel later returned safely to Dungarvan, after which both lifeboats were stood down.
