#rnli – Howth RNLI inshore lifeboat launched at 4.40pm Monday 29th June to reports of four men in two kayaks in difficulties one mile north of Howth harbour with one of the men in need of medical assistance.
The pagers sounded to launch the inshore lifeboat on Monday 29th June to come to the assistance of reports of 4 men in 2 kayaks with one of the men in need of medical assistance.
The casualty had been kayaking with his 3 friends when one of the kayaks overturned throwing the occupants into the water. The man was not wearing a wetsuit or a buoyancy aid and was suffering from the onset of hypothermia.
The lifeboat located the casualties within 4 minutes of launching and took all 4 men aboard the lifeboat with the kayaks in tow and treated the casualty for hypothermia at the scene.
Volunteer lifeboat helm; Ian Martin said "The casualty was in this instance extremely lucky as without a proper wetsuit his core body temperature was dropping very fast and this could have been very serious. We urge all kayakers to have the proper clothing, wetsuits and lifejackets before heading out to sea"