Arranmore RNLI in County Donegal launched in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday 19 October) to go the assistance of two sailors who got into difficulty at St John’s Point.
The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 4.15am at the request of the Irish Coast Guard following a report that a Canadian 45ft yacht with two men onboard had ran aground at St John’s Point.
The lifeboat under Coxswain Lee Early and with six crew onboard launched and made its way to the scene.
Killybegs Coast Guard unit was also tasked.
Weather conditions at the time were described as blowing a Force 4-5 north westerly wind with a two metre swell.
Once on scene at 6.20am, the lifeboat crew observed that the vessel was right up on the reefs making it difficult for the Coast Guard’s inshore boat and the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat to get close to the casualties. The yacht had also begun to take on water. It was at this point the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 from Sligo was also tasked with the decision made to airlift the sailors to safety.
Speaking following the call out, Arranmore RNLI mechanic Philip McCauley said: ‘This was a challenging call out for ourselves and our colleagues in the Coast Guard this morning due to where the vessel had ran aground so close to the rocks. We were able to assist the helicopter with providing extra light in the darkness as it winched the sailors to safety. We would like to wish them both well following their ordeal.’