Ophelia: Windsurfers 'In Difficulty' Prompt Rescue Operation In Dundalk Bay

16th October 2017

Rescue 116 over Dundalk Bay this morning after reports of windsurfers in difficulty Credit: CarlingfordIRE/Twitter

#Ophelia - Windsurfers on the Louth coast have been roundly criticised on social media as they prompted a major rescue operation before the arrival of Storm Ophelia, as TheJournal.ie reports.

The four windsurfers, originally thought to be kitesurfers, made their own way to shore after getting 'into difficulty' this morning — but not before Clogherhead RNLI, Greenore Coast Guard and the Dublin-based Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter had launched to their location, off Blackrock in Dundalk Bay.

The Irish Coast Guard has repeated widespread calls to stay away from the coast during the current storm conditions throughout Ireland.

2 kite surfers safely escorted to shore with @GreenoreCG, @ClogherheadRNLI, Rescue116 and local Garda present@TOTTDundalk @rtenews pic.twitter.com/fss1F91cVx
— Carlingford (@CarlingfordIRE) October 16, 2017

This article was changed to correct an error in the number of windsurfers involved in this morning's incident.

Published in Rescue

Tagged under

About The Author

MacDara Conroy

Email The Author

MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.