Larne RNLI has rescued two kayakers who got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast yesterday evening (Tuesday 27 September).

The volunteer lifeboat crew responded to a launch request from Belfast Coastguard at approximately 6.30pm following reports of two kayakers in difficulty at Ballygally Head.

The initial alarm was raised by a member of the public reporting two kayakers in trouble with one kayaker in the water.

Weather conditions were described as blowing a Force 3-4 wind with a slight swell and reduced visibility due to darkness falling.

Both Larne RNLI’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats launched at 6.42pm and the crews were quickly on scene. The casualties were located and recovered into the inshore lifeboat and were medically assessed by the crew.

Larne’s inshore lifeboat crew transferred the kayakers safely back to shore at Ballygally and into the care of the Coastguard while the all-weather lifeboat returned the kayaks to shore.

Speaking following the call out, Larne RNLI Coxswain Frank Healy said: 'The kayakers were located quickly this evening and returned safely to shore and we like to wish them both well following their ordeal.
‘Our volunteer crew train all year round to ensure when the pager sounds they are competent to complete any rescue and this training quickly swung into action this evening. We would like to commend the member of the public who contacted the Coastguard and we would urge anyone who sees someone in distress around the coastline to never hesitate in dialling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.’

#RNLI - An island medical evacuation was carried out yesterday (Monday 26 September) by the volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI on the Mersey class all-weather lifeboat Fisherman's Friend.

In calm seagoing conditions, the lifeboat was launched at 1.15pm to attend to a man who had experienced a fall at the north end of Inishturk off the Mayo coast.

On arrival at the pier in Inishturk, the casualty was taken aboard the lifeboat and transferred to Cleggan pier, where he was moved to a waiting ambulance with the assistance of the Cleggan Coast Guard Unit.

Speaking following the callout, Clifden RNLI coxswain Alan Pryce said: “We were glad to be able to transfer this man safely to shore and we wish him a speedy recovery.

“The capability of the all-weather lifeboat in carrying out long-range shouts such as this one is reassuring, both for us as volunteers and all those who live on and visit our offshore islands.”

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat has arrived in Union Hall with the stricken 60–ft fishing boat that had got into difficulties some seven hours earlier. The crew reported via a Mayday call at 5.46 pm last evening that they were sinking some 20 miles off the Seven Heads in West Cork. In a difficult tow, in very poor conditions, the lifeboat moored the casuality at the pierhead and will soon proceed back on the two hour trip to base in Courtmacsherry where they will refuel and get ready for whenever the next callout will happen.

The Navy vessel LE Niamh stood by as the powerful Trent Class Lifeboat towed the trawler, while the Lifeboat crew at the same time used its mobile pump to keep the water ingress under control.

"We are all pleased that this evenings rescue was carried out efficiently by Coxswain Sean O'Farrell and his voluntary crew of five including local farmer Colin Bateman who manned the mobile pump as he boarded the Fishing Vessel" said Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Voluntary Operations Manager Brian O'Dwyer who also praised the fast response of the crew this evening, when every minute gained was precious.

The crew on this evenings callout were Coxswain Sean O'Farrell and voluntary crew members Pat Lawton (Mechanic), Colin Bateman, Ciaran Hurley, Dara Gannon and Conor Dullea.

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched shortly after 5pm yesterday evening (Sunday 25 September) to assist a person on a broken-down personal water craft.

The man had set off from Wicklow Harbour and was about a mile offshore when the engine cut out, leaving him adrift and unable to get ashore.

The lifeboat was alongside the casualty within minutes of launching and the crew carried out a quick assessment before towing the craft back into Wicklow Harbour and landing the man safely ashore.

Members of Howth RNLI lifeboat will gather at the lifeboat station this Sunday (2 October 2016) to name their new inshore lifeboat Aideen Cresswell in memory of the incredible woman who funded it. Aideen Cresswell (nee Stokes) was born in London in 1921 to Irish parents but came to live in The Baily, Howth. At a young age she met her husband John Cresswell at an RNLI ball and they spent their honeymoon on board a yacht sailing from Dublin to Waterford.

Mrs Cresswell passed away in 2011after a short illness but she will be remembered during the naming ceremony and service of dedication for Howth RNLI’s new inshore lifeboat. She will be represented at the ceremony by her two nephews, Andrew O’Hanlon and Seymour Cresswell, who will hand the new lifeboat into the care of the RNLI and officially name the inshore lifeboat Aideen Cresswell after their aunt.

Aideen Cresswell

Following the ceremony the new lifeboat will launch in Howth Harbour to the accompaniment of a lone piper. The well-known Dublin lifeboat station was established before 1825 and taken over by the RNLI in 1862. During its tenure Howth’s volunteer lifeboat crew have been awarded eleven medals for Gallantry: seven silver and four bronze. The station also operates an all-weather lifeboat.

The inshore lifeboat remains the workhorse of the RNLI as it has for nearly 50 years. The inflatable rescue craft is highly manoeuvrable and specifically suited to surf, shallow water and confined locations – often working close to cliffs, among rocks or even in caves.

Equipment includes VHF radio, night-vision equipment, and first-aid kit including oxygen. It has a maximum speed of 25 knots and can carry three crew members and five survivors.

Colm Newport, Howth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘We are grateful to our donor for her generous gift which has funded our new lifeboat and we look forward to welcoming representatives of her family to Howth to share this day with us. Our volunteer lifeboat crew will be proud custodians of this search and rescue vessel for many years to come.’

‘We hope people will come down and join us for the ceremony and see the wonderful legacy Mrs Aideen Cresswell has left the people of Howth.’

#RNLI - Larne RNLI's volunteer crew are throwing open the doors of their lifeboat station this coming Friday 30 September as they host a coffee morning to raise funds for Macmillan, the cancer support charity.

Doors open at 10am at 11 Olderfleet Road and the crew are already planning a 'bake off' to entice the public along and to dig deep for the charity.

The main organiser of the fundraiser is Larne RNLI lifeboat mechanic Derek Rea, who lost his uncle to cancer when he was younger and has had some close friends battle the illness.

It is a cause that is close to the heart of the entire station. Second coxswain Norman Surplus recently had his own battle with the disease and raised funds for cancer charities when he flew his gyrocopter round the world last year.

Commenting on the fundraising event, Rea said: "This will be a fundraiser with a difference for us here. As a charity we are thankful to the people of Larne for supporting the lifeboat but we also want to help others and raise funds for this worthy cause.

"There is hardly a person whose life has not been touched by cancer, either through battling it themselves or seeing someone they care about suffering with it. Support for cancer sufferers and research into treatment is ongoing and the Macmillan coffee morning is a great way to raise awareness and funds for this work."

Learn more about the Macmillan coffee morning fundraisers HERE.

#RNLI - Two British naval war ships, three helicopters and a fishing vessel joined Peel RNLI in the dramatic rescue of a trawler between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man in the early hours of Wednesday morning (21 September).

The 20m converted fishing vessel from Kilkeel in Co Down was on passage in the Irish Sea from Glasgow to Conwy in Wales when it started taking water through the stern tube and was in danger of sinking some 11 miles west of the Isle of Man.

Peel's all-weather lifeboat Ruby Clery, under the command of coxswain Paul Cain, launched shortly after the volunteer crew were alerted at 1.30am.

Northern Irish fishing vessel Stephanie M gave shelter to the casualty until the lifeboat crew were able to put a pump on board to evacuate the water.

The vessel, with three adults and one child on board, was soon stabilised and helicopters and other vessels stood down. The trawler was then taken in tow by the lifeboat bound for Peel.

During this time, a young woman and the child were taken ill, so the tow was dropped about 15 minutes from Peel and the two taken to a waiting ambulance where they were treated and then removed to Nobles Hospital.

Meanwhile, the lifeboat returned to the stricken vessel, which was now under its own power, and escorted it into Peel Harbour at about 5am.

"We advise people to always check their equipment before leaving port," said Cain after the callout.

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI was presented with a cheque for €5,749 last Friday 16 September by Ring of Kerry cyclists towards the charity’s special appeal in aid of a new inshore lifeboat which is due on service at the end of 2017.

A team of nine cyclists came together in March and set their sights on completing a 160km Ring of Kerry challenge on Saturday 27 August.

The team, comprising Paddy Kehoe, Philip and Richard Roche, John Summers, Jim Mernagh, Nicky Walsh, Renee Mullens, David Curtis and Damian Cahill, also undertook to fundraise in aid of the Fethard RNLI special appeal.

"This was a once in a lifetime achievement," said Kehoe. "Each member of the team are overwhelmed and extremely thankful for the support received.

"We all have families living on the coast and could call on the services of the lifeboat at any time, therefore it was important for us to support our local station."

Oonagh Hearne Messette, Fethard RNLI fundraising chair, said: "To have raised this amount of money on our behalf is outstanding and has had an unbelievable impact on our appeal. Without this community support we would not be able to seek to fundraise €65,000 for our new lifeboat appeal.

"It is credit to the team and we thank each and every one together with their extended family for their support."

The recent Waves Music Festival raised €35,000 towards the lifeboat station's €65,000 target, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Four teenage girls who got into trouble whilst swimming at Main Beach in Bundoran on Saturday (17th September) have issued an appeal to find the body boarders who helped them out of the water.

The girls were in the water just after 6.30pm on Saturday evening when they found themselves caught in a rip current. A member of the public dialled 999 and the Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat and Rescue 118 helicopter were both requested to launch by Malin Head Coast Guard. Within minutes the Bundoran Lifeboat was on the scene having made the short trip from the nearby station, however, on arrival the girls had already been helped to safety by a number of bodyboarders who were in the water at Main Beach at the time.

A number of RNLI volunteer shore crew, trained in Casualty Care, also attended the scene and assisted the girls until the arrival of the Sligo based Rescue 118 helicopter which landed in the Astoria Car Park.
As a precautionary measure, the girls were airlifted to Sligo University Hospital from where they were subsequently released after having been given an all clear.

Now the girls are appealing for their rescuers to come forward so that they may thank them in person.

#RNLI - Newcastle RNLI's inshore lifeboat Eliza was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard just before 2pm on Saturday afternoon (17 September) to investigate a vessel adrift four miles east of Newcastle in Co Down, near the mouth of Dundrum Bar.

The lifeboat was launched within minutes and made best speed to the casualty's position in calm seas. Once close enough, it was established that the cruiser had one person on board and had no means of contacting emergency services due to power failure.

A tow was quickly connected between the lifeboat and the casualty vessel and it was brought into and secured on its mooring at Dundrum Harbour. Both lifeboat and crew were back on station by 3.30pm.