#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI was launched around 2.30pm yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 12 July) to aid a man who had got into difficulty while swimming in East Cork's Ballyandreen Bay and called for help.

A member of the public heard the man's call and immediately alerted Valentia Coast Guard, who tasked Ballycotton's volunteer crew to launch both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats.

The inshore lifeboat was first to arrive on scene and the crew on board recovered the casualty from the water before transferring him to the all-weather lifeboat, where he was medically assessed, administered first aid and given oxygen.

The Irish Coast Guard's Waterford-based helicopter Rescue 117 was also tasked and arrived on scene around 3pm to airlift the casualty to Cork University Hospital, where he is said to be in a stable condition.

Speaking following the callout, Ballycotton RNLI coxswain Eolan Walsh said: "We would like to commend the member of the public who raised the alarm today as well as the immediate first aid action of the volunteer crew.

"Their quick-thinking and actions ensured that there was a positive outcome today for this casualty. We would also like to wish him a speedy recovery."

#WaterSafety - This summer the RNLI is launching the second year of the popular Beach Builder Challenge using the interactive video game Minecraft, which allows children to create and build virtual worlds.

Available to play from Monday 1 August, the Beach Builder Challenge was created by the RNLI to teach children about beach and water safety.

The RNLI has this year expanded the virtual world to include a Beach Island Adventure, which means that as well as being able to create epic beaches, creative youngsters are also tasked with completing four levels based on the charity’s Stay SAFE acronym: Spot the dangers, Take Advice, Stay close to a Friend or family member, and learn what to do in an Emergency.

"This is a fun and interactive game for 7–14 year olds to play during the summer holidays," says Jenny Thompson, RNLI lifeguard supervisor on the Causeway Coast. "We really hope the challenges will help Minecraft users visiting the beach this summer put their newly acquired beach safety knowledge into reality, and have fun while staying safe."

Last year’s Beach Builder Challenge was a huge success with more than 8,000 children participating from all over the world, including Canada, Australia and the USA. It also proved successful in helping to reach a high number of children living in inland communities across Ireland and the UK.

Feedback from 2015 suggests the game is an excellent education platform particularly as results found that 97% of participants, after playing the game, knew to go to a lifeguarded beach; and there was a 20% increase in the number of children who knew to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard if they saw someone in trouble at the beach.

Bridiee Appleby-Gunnill, the RNLI’s Community Safety Product Manager, added: "We’ve created a fun, educational experience where a young person can engage and learn about water safety in a self-organised way and where academic ability does not limit learning.

"Research suggests that children learn and retain more when they can organise their own learning. Last year’s feedback has shown Minecraft to be a fantastic enabler in allowing this to happen.

"I’m really hopeful the results of this year’s challenge will be just as encouraging. We’ll be looking for participants to take part in research, to help us further develop ways to enable water safety learning in this age group."

This year, children using different platforms will be able to talk to one another while taking part in the challenge. To register your child’s involvement email [email protected].

#RNLI - A visiting yacht which ran aground on the way into Wexford Harbour was rescued by Wexford RNLI on Thursday afternoon (7 July) in what was the third callout for the volunteer crew this week.

The previous evening, the lifeboat launched at 8.15pm to reports of a walker on rocks near Wexford Bridge by members of Wexford Marinewatch who were concerned for their safety.

The lifeboat made its way to the wall which immerses in high tide and stood by until the individual was safely back on dry land.

On Tuesday (6 July) the lifeboat launched to reports of a possible sighting in the water, described as a white object that was splashing near Ferrycarrig Hotel. An extensive search of the area was carried out with nothing found.

Speaking after the week’s missions, Wexford RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Lorraine Galvin said: "All our volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and typically launch the lifeboat under 10 minutes of a 999 call.

"With at least two training exercises a week, the volunteers commit a great amount of time to providing rescue cover from Killurin Bridge to Curracloe Beach.

"We would also like to thank the fundraisers, who are all volunteers for their recent Flag Day collection and all those who donate to the RNLI to keep the service going allowing us to continue to saves lives at sea."

Larne RNLI came to the aid of four people yesterday evening after their 16m yacht got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast.

At approximately 6.30pm yesterday (Thursday 7 July), the volunteer crew was requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats after it was reported that a large yacht had sustained engine failure a mile north east of Muck Island.

Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a Force 3 wind and a slight swell running.

Arriving on scene, the lifeboat crew observed that one of the four people onboard was suffering from sea sickness.

Crew members from the inshore lifeboat went aboard to provide casualty care to the seasick individual while the all-weather lifeboat crew started to prepare the yacht for towing.

Once a towline was established, the all-weather lifeboat began the passage to Carrick Marina. Due to the large size of the vessel, Larne RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was used to assist with manoeuvring the yacht in the confines of the marina.

Speaking following the call out, Philip Ford-Hutchinson, Larne RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said: ‘This call out was a great example of both our inshore and all-weather lifeboats working well together to assist the four people onboard the casualty vessel. The inshore lifeboat crew members were able to administer casualty care to the person who was seasick before assisting the all-weather crew with setting up a tow and then helping to manoeuvre the yacht in the tight confines of Carrick Marina. Our volunteer crew regularly train for scenarios like this and those skills and training were put to good use last night.’

#RNLI - Over the last few months the generous people of Larne have raised over £2,000 for their local lifeboat station.

More than £600 was raised by the Great Northern Retro car rally that left Larne at 9am on Saturday 30 April, travelling up the scenic Antrim Coast to Malin Head. The event was very well supported with vehicles of all makes and models.

Meanwhile, local man John Stirling – father of lifeboat crew member Lee Stirling – celebrated his 60th birthday recently with a donation of £300 to the Larne lifeboat.

The Stirling family organised a surprise party and kindly asked for donations to Larne RNLI and the NI Air Ambulance in lieu of gifts.

Additionally, Larne Grammar School year 8 pupils, who are committed supporters of Larne RNLI, have again this year presented their local lifeboat station with a cheque for £1147.89 raised throughout the academic year.

"The people of Larne are very generous and dedicated supporters of our local lifeboat crew," said Jim Kerr, Larne RNLI fundraising chair, :I attended the start of the car rally and it was a fantastic spectacle to see the camper vans and cars leave Larne.

"I’d like to thank Gavin Gray who organised the NI Retros car rally, John Stirling for his birthday donation and the year 8 pupils of Larne grammar school for their kind donations.

"RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews around Ireland are willing to drop everything to go and save lives at sea when their pagers beep. We rely on the generosity of the public to continue our lifesaving service, which we operate day and night, 365 days a year.

"These donations can help fund crew training, contribute towards the running costs of a lifeboat station or buy new crew kit and are greatly appreciated by all at Larne RNLI."

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist a person on board a 30ft–cruiser, aground at Gortmore Point, at the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg yesterday morning.

Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist a person on board a 30ft cruiser that had gone aground on Lough Derg, south of Portumna

The lifeboat launched at 10.45am with helm Eleanor Hooker, Ger Egan and Lorna Walsh on board. Winds were west-southwest, Force 3/4, visibility was good.

The lifeboat located the vessel at Gortmore Point, on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg. The person on board was safe and unharmed, but distressed. They were wearing their lifejacket.

An RNLI volunteer climbed across and provided reassurance. The RNLI crew member checked the boat for any damage, and once satisfied the cruiser was not holed, set up a tow.

The cruiser was taken off the rocks and out into safe water, where the drives and engine were checked and found to be in working order.

With two RNLI volunteers on board the casualty vessel with its skipper, the lifeboat accompanied the cruiser to Dromineer harbour.

Brendan O’Brien, Deputy Launching Authority for Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat, advises lake users ‘who find themselves in difficulty, to dial 999 or 112 and ask for Marine Rescue’. ‘The RNLI Lifeboats and its volunteers provide 24hr rescue service, every day of the year.’

#RNLI - Lough Derg RNLI's lifeboat launched this morning (Friday 1 July) to assist four people on board a 40ft cruiser whose anchor came loose and dragged beneath their boat in severe weather.

At 11.20am Valentia Coast Guard requested the lifeboat to attend to the cruiser located by Hare Island.

The lifeboat launched at 11.42am with helm Peter Clarke, Lorna Walsh and Barry Morkan on board. Winds were south-westerly Force 5, gusting 6/7, with good visibility.

The lifeboat was alongside the cruiser at 11.52am. Everyone on board was safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.

An RNLI crew member reassured everyone on board the cruiser. Given the severe weather conditions and the exposed location, it was decided to let the anchor go when it could not be recovered back on board after numerous attempts.

The cruiser for any other potential problems, and everything was found to be in working order, so it continued its journey to the public harbour at Dromineer where it took shelter.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 1.14pm.

Lifeboat operations manager Liam Maloney advises boat users to "check the weather before setting out from harbour and ensure all items are stowed correctly".

#RNLI - Valentia RNLI launched on Monday afternoon (27 June) to a 10m fishing vessel going aground off Bolus Head in Co Kerry after fouling its propeller.

The call for assistance came from Valentia Coast Guard at 3.44pm with Ballinskelligs inshore rescue and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 also tasked to respond.

Ballinskelligs CRBI provided a tow to the vessel to remove it to safer water, where the Valentia lifeboat took over the tow for a short distance to free the obstruction from its propeller.

The skipper was then able to control the boat assistance and the tow was parted. The fishing vessel continued on without incident and Valentia RNLI returned to station.

#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out at 12.20pm yesterday afternoon (Monday 27 June) to aid a 40ft pleasure cruiser in difficulties just off the Seven Heads in West Cork.

The cruiser, with two people onboard, was on passage from East Ferry to Baltimore when it fouled its propellors about 300 yards off the cliffs at Seven Heads.

Its crew managed to hold themselves off the shore by tying the vessel to lobster pots until the lifeboat arrived. Conditions at sea were windy with a good swell.

The Courtmacsherry lifeboat, under coxswain Sean O'Farrell with crew of six, launched immediately and reached the stricken vessel at 12.45pm, succeeding in quickly getting a tow rope on board the casualty and assessing the damage before taking the vessel under tow to the safety of Courtmacsherry Pier

Naval Service vessel LE Orla also proceeded to the area and stood by with their divers if required.

This was the third similar callout and rescue in the past 10 days for the West Cork lifeboat station.

#RNLI - Crosshaven RNLI has announced that Ian Venner, a helm with the crew, has been appointed to the RNLI Council for Ireland as one of its 15 members.

Venner has been a member of the lifeboat crew and a helm since the station was re-established in 2000.

An accountant by profession and a keen powerboater, Venner replaces on the council well-known Cork businessman and sailor Peter Crowley, who after 10 years on the council becomes an RNLI vice president.

The RNLI Council acts in the interest of the RNLI in the Republic and Northern Ireland and makes recommendations and gives advice to the RNLI Board, the Council and the Executive Team concerning lifeboat matters.