#RNLI - RNLI Bangor's lifeboat launched at 4pm on Friday (12 July) to assist with the medical evacuation of an unconscious sailor from a 26ft yacht.

Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, volunteer crew had the lifeboat launched and quickly located the yacht in Ballyholme Bay, on the southern shores of Belfast Lough.

Crews from other vessels in the vicinity also quickly responded to the Mayday call; they had been able to come alongside the yacht and had administered first aid to the injured sailor. Once medically stabilised, the sailor was taken onboard the Bangor lifeboat.

Fine weather conditions allowed the lifeboat to proceed at full speed back to Bangor, were the injured sailor was transferred into the care of waiting paramedics.

Dr Iain Dobie, a volunteer crewman with RNLI Bangor, praised the actions of all crews involved.

"When the call for help went out we are pleased that crews from other vessels close by had quickly responded and provided vital medical assistance. They did a fantastic job, by the time we arrived the gentleman was conscious."

He added: "We all wish him a full and speedy recovery."

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat responded to two callouts in one mission last night (Saturday 13 July).

Just after 9.50pm the crew were tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard to a kayaker reported to be in difficulty off St John's Point. Within 4 minutes the Bundoran lifeboat had launched and made its way across Donegal Bay as the sun was setting, to where the kayaker had been spotted by a person on the shore. Pulling up alongside the kayaker the crew discovered the gentleman having a leisurely evening fishing and that there were no problems. This incident was then classed as a "false alarm with good intent" and the crew prepared to make their way back to Bundoran.

As they were en-route back to Bundoran and darkness was beginning to fall, a mayday call was heard over emergency channel 16. Around the same time, the lifeboat crew spotted what they thought was a white emergency flare in the direction of Mullaghmore Head and advised the Coast Guard who then tasked them to the scene to check it out. Arriving on the scene approximately 20 minutes later the crew found no sign of anybody in trouble – a member of the shore crew checked the area on land. The crew were directed to remain on scene until the Rescue 118 Search & Rescue helicopter from Sligo conducted an aerial search after which they were stood down and returned to station around 11.20pm.

Volunteer RNLI lifeboat helm for Bundoran Iarla Carty said 'fortunately the services of the lifeboat were not required on these 2 occasions however we always advise people to call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard if they think they see someone in trouble at sea. We would always rather launch and check things out to make sure everything is ok – we are mindful in these good weather conditions that more and more people will be using the water and following the news of all the tragedies during the week we would encourage water users to be extra vigilant but to enjoy themselves at the same time.'

#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched following a Mayday Relay from Valentia Coast Guard, to go the assistance of ten people, whose 35ft motor cruiser was sinking at Parker's Point, the deepest water on Lough Derg.

At 16.15hrs on Saturday afternoon, July 13, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch following a Mayday transmission requesting immediate assistance for ten people, when their 35ft motor cruiser began to sink at Parker's point, at the south western end of Lough Derg.

At 16.25hrs the lifeboat launched with Helm Eleanor Hooker, David Moore and Tom Dunne on board. Winds were northerly, Force 3/4. Temperature was 25*C. The lifeboat carried it's Salvage Pump to the scene.

The Killaloe Coast Guard lifeboat and the Irish Coast Guard Search & Rescue Helicopter also responded to the Mayday.

When the RNLI Lifeboat arrived on scene the Killaloe Coast Guard had taken eight young adults onto their boat and had set up tow to the casualty vessel, which had two adults remaining on board.

When it was established that none of the people required medical attention and that the water was being successfully pumped from the boat, the Helicopter crew returned to base.

At 16.35hrs the RNLI lifeboat slow paced with the Killaloe Coast Guard boat to transfer the eight people to the Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat, so that they could be taken quickly to Mountshannon Harbour to get shade and water.

The skipper of the cruiser identified why his vessel was taking on water and successfully fixed the problem. No longer requiring a tow, he made way to Mountshannon Harbour under his own power, and was assisted to tie up alongside.

Many boats in the vicinity, including two RNLI volunteers, Owen Cavangh and Dom Sharkey, in their RIB, offered assistance and remained on standby throughout, should their help have been needed.

Once all ten people and their boat were safely landed at Mountshannon, the Coast Guard cancelled the Mayday and the Seelonce Mayday

Lough Derg RNLI helm Eleanor Hooker said "it was good to work with our colleagues in the Coast Guard and to have had such a swift and successful outcome to this Mayday request for help". As the heat wave is forecast to continue she advises water users 'to stay safe in and around water and not to take risks'.

The Lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 17.40hrs.

#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to assist six people after their 38ft motor boat suffered steering failure in Dromineer Bay.

At 14.50hrs on Friday afternoon, July 12, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist six people, four adults and two young children, after they reported that their 38ft motor boat had lost steering.

The lifeboat launched with Helm Eleanor Hooker, David Moore and Jason Freeman on board. Winds were west south-west, Force 2/3. Temperature was 30*C. The lifeboat came alongside at 15.15hrs, all onboard was safe and unharmed. A RNLI volunteer was transferred to the boat and requested everyone to put on a lifejacket. The helm of the casualty vessel had very sensibly dropped anchor to prevent their boat drifting on to the rocks by Urra Point.

As only one person onboard was able to communicate in English, an RNLI crew member explained fully what the lifeboat proposed to do, and he then relayed that to the rest of his group. The lifeboat set up tow, weighed anchor on the casualty vessel, and then, with an RNLI crew member still on board, towed her and her passengers to the public harbour in Dromineer.

Lough Derg RNLI helm Eleanor Hooker advises boat users to 'not to delay, to call for help as soon as they are in difficulties, by calling 999 or 112 and asking for Marine Rescue'.

The Lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 16.00hrs.

#rnil – Youghal RNLI in county Cork launched this evening to search for a young boy who was reported to have got into difficulty at sea while swimming off Youghal beach.

The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at 5.20pm. A member of the public had raised the alarm after seeing a person in the water who was making no movement.

The lifeboat helmed by Patsy O'Mahony and with crew members Jason Clohessy and Daragh Mathews on board, was on scene, east of Youghal lighthouse, within minutes.

With the tide coming in, two members of the public including a nurse who had swam out to the area where the casualty had disappeared were brought onboard the lifeboat. Several members of the public were assisting in the search along with a numbers of vessels which were in the area at the time.

The lifeboat was alerted by the crew of a fishing vessel that they had located the casualty and brought him on board their boat.

The lifeboat proceeded to the nearby vessel where both crew member Daragh Mathews and the nurse transferred and together began to administer CPR to the casualty. The lifeboat meanwhile escorted the boat to the pontoon at the new jetty in the area.

In what was a multi-agency response, the lifeboat was met at the shore by ambulance paramedics, a doctor, and first responders from the Youghal community. The casualty was airlifted by the Irish Coast Guard helicopter and was subsequently brought to Cork University hospital.

The boy was later pronounced dead.

Speaking following the tragedy, Fergus Hopkins, Youghal RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: 'This is a devastating and heartbreaking loss for this young boy's family and a terrible tragedy for the Youghal community. I wish to offer my condolences and those of Youghal RNLI to the family at this difficulty time

#rnli – Combining his experience as a successful businessman and a long-serving volunteer, Charles Hunter-Pease today (11 July) takes the helm to start his role as Chairman of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Charles has been involved in the in the RNLI's governance since 1996 when he became a member of the Institution's Council. He has been a Trustee for the charity that saves lives at sea twice, from 1999 to early 2008, before re-joining the trustee board in late 2009. He has been Vice Chairman since 16 March 2013.

Charles's first duty as RNLI Chairman is to participate in the naming of one of the charity's newest class of lifeboat, the Shannon. The Jock and Annie Slater is the first Shannon class to enter active service and will take up a place in the RNLI's relief fleet after the ceremony at the RNLI College in Poole on 11 July.

A senior manager in the motor industry, Charles worked for Volvo from 1973 until retiring in 2007. He became Senior Vice President of Volvo Car Corporation in Gothenburg in 1993 and acted as the Senior Adviser to the Management Team of Volvo Car Corporation from 1999 onwards. For over 20 years, Charles has used his management and business expertise as a volunteer, serving on various RNLI committees including fundraising, resources, remuneration, membership nomination and property, and has chaired the group leading the continuous improvement programme for the past three years.

Charles Hunter-Pease will succeed the RNLI's current Chairman, Admiral the Lord Boyce on 11 July 2013.

#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI in Co Down had a busy weekend with four separate call-outs over the two days.

The first came on Saturday 6 July following a report that three children were drifting offshore on an inflatable toy.

The volunteer lifeboat crew was already afloat on exercise as part of the annual raft race in Kircubbin, Co Down, when they got a call to go to the aid of the three children aged 10, 11 and 14 who were drifting out to sea on the inflatable 18 miles away at Cloughey Bay.


Thankfully by the time they arrived on scene a local coastguard unit had already attended and brought the three children to safety on shore.

Portaferry RNLI was called out for a second time at 4.10pm to rescue a number of people on board a speedboat that had lost power in Strangford Lough just off Killyleagh.


The crew arrived at the scene at 4.15pm, by which time the 15ft speedboat had already been towed in and was moored at the pontoons at Killyleagh Yacht Club in Strangford Lough.

On both occasions the weather was fine with good visibility and calm seas.
 

Yesterday (7 July) the volunteer crew launched for the third time to assist an injured woman on Salt Island in Strangford Lough.

The crew arrived at the island at 10.10am and assessed the situation before transporting two paramedics from Killyleagh to the injured woman, who was subsequently airlifted by Irish Coast Guard helicopter to Musgrave Park Hospital in Belfast for treatment.


At 11:35am, while returning to the lifeboat station, the crew was alerted once again, this time to go to the aid of two men onboard a five metre Dory that had lost power and was drifting just off Ringhaddy Sound in Strangford Lough.


The crew arrived on the scene at 12.05pm and took the men onboard the lifeboat, towing the powerless boat into Strangford Lough Yacht Club, where the men were then put ashore and their boat tied up.

Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Newcastle RNLI assisted two men after their motor cruiser ran aground off the Co Down coast last Thursday (4 July).

The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 2.20pm following a report from Belfast Coastguard that a small vessel had ran aground off Dundrum Bar with two people on board.

Weather conditions at the time were described as blowing south westerly four to five winds with moderate to choppy seas. There was good visibility.



The lifeboat, helmed by Nathan Leneghan and with crew members Declan Barry and Charles McClelland on board, arrived on scene at 2.30pm, where they observed that one of the men had made it to shore while the other was still on the 5m boat.


Speaking following the call-out, Newcastle RNLI deputy launching authority Joe McClelland said: "Thankfully, no one was in immediate danger and we were happy to bring the vessel and the man who was still on board safely to shore."

#Rescue - Castlerock RNLI lifeguards rescued a family of six after they got into difficulty on the town’s seaside beach in Co Derry yesterday (7 July).

Senior RNLI lifeguard Gordon Clark was patrolling busy Castlerock beach when at he noticed a person in the water waving for help a short distance to the right of the flagged zone on the beach around 5.30pm.



The family of six – including a man, woman and four children – were all on bodyboards when they got caught in what appeared to be a flash rip, a strong current running out to sea.



After radioing for assistance, Clark swiftly entered the sea with a rescue tube. He was quickly joined in the rescue operation by his RNLI lifeguard colleagues Jenny Thompson and Ray Cunningham. 



Clark and Thompson proceeded to safely ferry the children, followed by their parents, to the shore, where they were checked over to ensure they hadn’t taken on any water. All were safe and well.



Speaking following the rescue, Mike Grocott, RNLI lifeguard manager for Northern Ireland, said: "Rip currents often catch people out because they can be difficult to spot, and research shows that most people don’t know how to identify one. They are a major cause of incidents that the RNLI’s lifeguards deal with each season.



"Anyone who gets caught in a rip should try to remain calm, raise their arm in the air to signal for help like the family member did today. If they feel they can swim, they should swim parallel to the beach until free of the current, and then head for shore."



With temperatures expected to soar this week, Grocott reminded people to be mindful of the RNLI’s key safety recommendations – choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, which mark the safest area to swim and are an indicator that lifeguards are on duty.

#rnli – Ballycotton lifeboat launched at 17:15 this evening to a 30 ft Irish registered vessel with mechanical difficulties 12 miles east of Ballycotton.

The vessel with two persons on board ran into difficulties and sought assistance. The Ballycotton lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, arrived on scene at 17:50.

The situation was assessed and a tow line was established. The vessel was taken under tow to Ballycotton where it was safely secured alongside the pier wall at 20:00.

#Rescue - The Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI were among the emergency services putting some new communication technology to the test last month.

As Phys.org reports, the emergency exercise in Malahide Estuary was designed to test the effectiveness of REACT, or Resource for Emergency services to Access Command and control data using satellite and hybrid Technologies.

The system, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), employs satellite, mobile and other communications systems to maintain a constant open channel between different response services, even if one network goes down during a crisis.

Rescue teams in the field can also remain in two-way multimedia contact with co-ordinators in the control room to ensure the right people are where they need to be as quickly as possible.

Ritchie Hedderman, head of operations at the Dublin Fire Brigade, which also took part in the exercise, said: "In the event of a major emergency, secure and reliable communications are vital to the emergency services.

"I feel that the satellite communications in time will prove to be the primary and preferred means for communicating as it can supply voice, video and data back to regional and national control centres where strategic commanders can assess situation on the ground and provide the back up resources in order that a successful conclusion to the emergency can be obtained."

Phys.org has much more on the story HERE.