Lifeboat

1st January 2011

Crosshaven Lifeboat Called out Twice on Last Day of 2010

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat finished 2010 with two services on the last day of the first decade, making 2010 the busiest year of its 10 year existence.

The Volunteer crew members were awoken by pagers just after 4am, and requested to launch to the aid of a woman on rocks near Myrtleville. A combined rescue operation by the RNLI, Fire Service, Crosshaven Coastguard and the HSE brought the women to safety and onwards to hospital, where she is recovering.

The volunteer crews headed back to their beds at 6.30 in the morning.

The afternoon peace was shattered by the shrill sound of pagers, again calling the crew. Valentia Marine rescue Centre informed the station of a 38 foot commercial fishing vessel which had become entangled in its own nets. The volunteer crew of Con Crowley, Gary Heslin and Vincent Fleming made their way through a moderate to rough sea to the vessel which was near Power Head. As the vessels nets were also attached to the seabed, the nets had to be cut away before the Lifeboat could establish a tow back to Crosshaven, arriving some two hours later.

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A video grab of the afternoon service yesterday to the disabled Fishing Vessel. Photo: Crosshaven Lifeboat Station

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24th December 2010

Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Remembers Christmas Eve Tragedy of 1895

A ceremony remembering 15 RNLI lifeboat crew volunteers that died on service in 1895 on Christmas Eve is to take place later today.

The RNLI lifeboat station in Dun Laoghaire is holding it's traditional ceremony at midday at a memorial stone close to the station.

The 15 volunteers lost their lives when their lifeboat capsized while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme that ran aground off Blackrock in Co. Dublin.

Those who also lost their lives this year while serving with the RNLI will also be remembered.

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13th December 2010

Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Saves Woman after Fall from Pier

Dun Laoghaire RNLI inshore Lifeboat Realt na Mara launched this evening at 5.02pm to rescue a woman who had fallen into the harbour close by the East Pier lighthouse.

It is believed the woman stumbled while walking along the popular pier and fell into the harbour. Her cries for help were heard by people walking on the pier, who in turn contacted the Coast guard and threw a lifebuoy into the water to keep her afloat until help arrived.

The RNLI inshore lifeboat was quickly launched and on scene in minutes. It was dark with an easterly wind blowing in the harbour. The lifeboat volunteers recovered the freezing woman from the water and brought her alongside the pier. She was then winched onboard the Coast Guard Helicopter and transferred to hospital for medical treatment.

Stephen Wynne, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said, "This is a very lucky woman. Without the quick action of the members of the public who raised the alarm and gave assistance along with the rapid response of the Dun Laoghaire RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew, we would be dealing with a tragedy today."

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23rd November 2010

Fenit Lifeboat Rescues Fishermen in Fog

Following a call from a fishing vessel, Fenit RNLI inshore lifeboat launched at 2pm this afternoon to go to the aid of a fishing vessel which was oyster fishing in Tralee Bay and in difficulty due to very thick fog.

Fenit RNLI inshore lifeboat under Helmsman Kevin Deady, with crew members Kevin Moriarty and Kevin Honeyman launched at 2pm and proceeded from Fenit in the direction of Blennerville. Having located the stricken vessel with 3 fishermen on board the RNLI lifeboat subsequently discovered 2 other oyster fishing boats in difficulty, each with 3 fishermen on board and completely disorientated in the heavy fog.

Fenit inshore lifeboat the Bradley and Sonya guided the 3 fishing boats back to the safety of Fenit marina where they arrived just before 3pm. Commenting on the rescue, RNLI mechanic and crew member Kevin Honeyman described the conditions as very bad with visibility down to about 10 metres. He praised the upgraded navigation system of the Bradley and Soyna which allowed them to navigate their way safely in such bad conditions and escort the fishing boats to Fenit.

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14th November 2010

Lifeboat Assists Sinking Fishing Vessel in Cork Harbour

Yesterday while out on exercise in a squally southwesterly force four winds the crew of the Ballycotton lifeboat Austin Lidbury received details of a 26 foot fishing vessel that had sunk off Roches Point, at the mouth of Cork Harbour. The two crew members had taken to a liferaft and were retrieved by a fishing vessel in the area. Crosshaven lifeboat also launched and was first on scene. Ballycotton lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

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9th November 2010

Ballycotton Lifeboat Launches for Pleasure Craft in Choppy Seas

Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was launched at 12:10 today for a pleasure craft in the Ballycotton Bay area of East Cork.

No contact had been made with the lone sailor for over an hour and his concerned family contacted the Coast Guard.

Sea conditions in the area was choppy at the time, with the wind blowing North East force 6/7.

The Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, were requested to launch, as were the Ballycotton Coast Guard unit and the Waterford based Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 117.

The pleasure craft returned safely to shore under its own power shortly afterwards and the emergency units were stood down.

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8th November 2010

Bangor Helmsmen Awarded Medals for Twenty Years Service

Recently two well known and respected volunteer Bangor Lifeboat helmsmen were awarded medals in recognition for their many years of devoted service to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Ewan Scott and Tommy Burns have been awarded Long Service medals at recent RNLI ceremonies. During their 20 years of dedicated service, RNLI Bangor Lifeboat has undertaken a total of 845 rescues at sea resulting in the saving of 98 lives.

Both Ewan and Tommy are of one mind and agree that over the years there have been many improvements to the lifeboats, the equipment and training all of which has greatly enhanced the RNLI's ability to save life at sea.

Even after over 20 years of service Ewan and Tommy continue to freely give of their time and effort. They are considered by all to be the most experienced helmsmen at Bangor station and are actively involved in the training of crew and other volunteers.

Bangor's Lifeboat Operations Manager Kevin Byers paid tribute to Ewan and Tommy when he said 'Without the huge commitment and dedication of volunteers like Ewan and Tommy, the RNLI would be unable to carry out the increasingly demanding task of saving lives at sea.' Kevin went on to say 'I am delighted that Ewan and Tommy have been presented with these awards, they deserve a big thank you for all they have done for Bangor Lifeboat over the past 20 years.'

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7th November 2010

Family Say 'Thank You' to Portrush Lifeboat for Saving Son

A grateful family presented a cheque to Portrush lifeboat crew in thanks for saving their son this summer.
On 16th May 2010 both Portrush Lifeboats were launched to two separate incidents within one at 0922 hours and one at 0924 hours.
Within minutes two full volunteer crews had assembled and both the All-weather Lifeboat and the Inshore Lifeboat were launched. The Inshore Lifeboat was launched to reports of two young people in the water at Dhu Varren. Karl O'Neill was at the helm supported by Nick Christie and Jonathan Weston. Two youths had gone into the sea after a dog, and were starting to experience real difficulties in getting back to shore. One of the youths Damian Morris had sustained cuts to his arms and legs, was suffering hypothermia and was literally going under the water for the third time when the Portrush Lifeboat arrived on scene. Damian spent several days in hospital as a result of the incident and was delighted to be able to come to the station to meet the crew who had saved him that day.
Damian's uncle and Godfather Raymond Comac and his friend Paul McGuigan, do a lot of charity work in Damian's hometown in Omagh holding fundraisers to raise funds to take motorbikes out to South Africa for use by health care workers in the townships. However this year, they divided the proceeds between their charity and the RNLI, in recognition of the fact that the volunteer crew at Portrush had saved Damian's life.
Damian's parents Liam and Rosemary Morris, Damian himself and his uncle Raymond and friend Paul travelled to Portrush to meet the crew and hand over a cheque for £1000. Both Nick and Karl were overwhelmed by the generosity and stated;
'We don't do this for thanks, but it's so nice to meet someone that you have helped and for this amount to be raised is fantastic for the station'
The family got a tour of the station and had a look at the new Inshore lifeboat 'The David Roulston' which took over from the 'Ken and Mary' the boat that responded to the call that day....one of her last launches.

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4th November 2010

Woman Airlifted to Cliff Top

Earlier this afternoon Milford Haven Coastguard were alerted by local Police to an unfolding incident at Lydstep beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales involving a woman and two children.

The woman who is not local to the area was walking with her 10 and 17 year old sons and had climbed some rocks near the caravan park but had become stuck. The children had managed to scramble to the top of the cliffs and raise the alarm. They were unable to help their mother.

The weather this afternoon has been south westerly winds force 5 – 7 with occasional rain with low visibility.

The Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team which has a cliff capability, and Tenby RNLI all weather lifeboat with its 'Y' boat was asked to turn out, and the Coastguard Sector Manager for Pembroke also attended. The RNLI inshore lifeboat was also launched.

Due to the prevailing weather and surf conditions a rescue helicopter – Rescue 169 - from RAF Chivenor was also scrambled.

Bob Peel, Coastguard Watch manager at Milford haven Coastguard said

"Once the woman's location had been determined and a Coastguard lowered to her on the rocks it was agreed amongst all the rescuing parties that with the 2 lifeboat crewmen and 1 cliff man from the Coastguard with the woman, it was probably too dangerous to evacuate everyone by boat.

"There is dense gorse and blackthorn at the top of the cliff is and it would have proved difficult to recover her safely for the cliff team, so the rescue helicopter was requested. By 4.00 pm the helicopter crew were winching the female and Coastguard up from the base of the cliff whilst the two crewmen returned to the all weather lifeboat by their Y boat. The woman was cold and shaken and had no need of medical attention.

"This is a salutary lesson in making sure that if you are in unknown terrain without the suitable climbing gear please don't attempt slippery cliff and rock faces, as inevitably rocky terrain can catch the unprepared out very quickly."

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1st November 2010

Special Plaque Remembers Portrush Lifeboat Tragedy

A Special plaque presented to Portrush Lifeboat in honour of those who have lost their lives On the 1st November 1889 the Portrush Lifeboat launched to a boat in peril at Portballintrae. A ship had been reported in difficulties near the White Rocks and the Portrush lifeboat 'The Robert and Agnes Blair' set off swept along the coast by high winds. Less than an hour later the lifeboat was lying damaged on the beach east of Portballintrae and, three of the crew that set out that night were dead. The Robert and Agnes Blair was a new Lifeboat and the third lifeboat to be sent to Portrush. The boat had been at Portrush barely and month and this was her first callout.
The three volunteer crew men who lost their lives were James McAlister, a local fisherman, William McNeill and Galbraith Hamilton Grills, the Chief Officer of the Coastguard at Portrush.
To-day on the anniversary of that tragic night, William McNeill's great grandson Ronald Handy and his wife Lily presented the Station with a plaque in memory of the three crew men who lost their lives on that November night in 1889.
On an interesting note, Tracey McAlister the great great granddaughter of James McAlister is presently the press officer for Portrush Fundraising team, thus continuing the family links with the Lifeboat.

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