Unconscious teenage scout fell 12m into sea from rescue helicopter in Wexford

A teenage scout who was unconscious after being swept into sea with a friend at Hook Head, Co Wexford, tumbled an estimated 12m back into the water during the rescue operation.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit is carrying out a preliminary review of the circumstances of the rescue, which took place last Sunday afternoon after four scouts were knocked into the water by what was described as a freak wave.

Two teenage boys, aged 15, managed to get ashore but the girl and another boy drifted in the water. The four were part of a group from the South Circular Road branch of the Scouts that had been in the area as part of an organised trip.

Three 999 calls raised the alarm and the Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter was first at the scene. It is understood the girl was unconscious in the water as she and the boy were suffering from the onset of hypothermia in waters with a temperature of 8C.

However, it has now emerged that while the pair were being winched up to the helicopter together, the girl fell back into the water. She was brought aboard the helicopter and swiftly transferred to University Hospital Waterford.

The Department of Transport said yesterday that a full investigation has not been launched into the incident, but the Air Accident Investigation Unit will carry out the preliminary review to determine if a full investigation is warranted.

It is understood the girl remains in hospital, and it was confirmed yesterday the Coast Guard had reported the incident on Sunday.

Bad weather was also a factor in the rescue, and it is understood that as the girl was unconscious at the time and the boy also struggling in the water, the rescue crew felt there was little option but to winch both together for fear of loss of life.

The investigation unit will seek to interview as many people as possible as part of the preliminary review, including the boy who was winched to safety, and will have to consider medical reports.