BREAKING: Three Drinagh children with burn injuries airlifted to hospital

THREE young children from the Drinagh area of West Cork were this evening airlifted to hospital by an Irish Coast Guard helicopter, which had been tasked by Valentia Coast Guard, after they suffered serious burns in a fire incident at their home.

It is believed that they sustained the burns when a petrol canister accidentally ignited around 6pm this evening, but the exact circumstances of the incident have yet to be confirmed and fully investigated. 

The Coast Guard helicopter was meant to have landed at the local soccer pitch, Canon Crowley Park, but instead opted to land in a field closer to the family’s home, approximately 1km south of Drinagh village so that they could be removed more speedily by the Rescue 115 helicopter from Shannon.

They were taken to Cork University Hospital so that their injuries could be assessed and a decision made on whether any of them subsequently need to be transferred to a specialist burns unit in Dublin for further treatment.

Emergency services responded in great numbers to the incident with Gardai, fire brigade units from Dunmanway and Clonakilty, a doctor and National Ambulance Service paramedics attending the scene. The medical personnel called for assistance from the Irish Coast Guard helicopter after assessing the seriousness of the children’s injuries.