The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI in Co Galway towed a broken-down boat with two people on board to safety yesterday evening and were tasked again at midnight to a medevac from the island of Inishbofin.

At 6.45pm on Friday (26 May), Clifden’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist a boat that had broken down.

The crew launched Joyce King in beautiful sunny conditions, helmed by David Barry with crew James Mullen, Joseph Acton and Brian Ward. They were assisted by Neil Gallery and John Brendan Mannion on shore.

The crew arrived on scene to find the casualties had anchored and did not require medical attention. The stricken vessel was taken under tow back to a mooring in Clifden Bay, arriving without incident at 8.45pm.

Another callout came at midnight when Clifden’s all-weather lifeboat St Christopher was tasked to evacuate an injured person from Inishbofin. The casualty had sustained a head injury from a fall.

The lifeboat slipped her moorings under the command of coxswain James Mullen with John Mullen, Joseph Acton, Dan Whelan and Neil Gallery as crew.

The weather was calm en route with a beautiful night at sea, and the lifeboat made it to Inishbofin in excellent time. The crew met with the island nurse who provided a handover and then proceeded to transport the patient back to Cleggan pier. An ambulance was waiting to bring the patient to hospital for further treatment.

Speaking about the shouts, James Mullen said: “It was a busy night for our volunteer crew and I want to thank everyone involved, in particular the island nurse, An Garda Síochána, the National Ambulance Service and the coastguard who assisted in the multi-agency medical evacuation.

“Our volunteer crew remain on call 24/7, with the good weather promised we urge everyone to be safe around the water. If you get into difficulty, or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”

Kilmore Quay RNLI crew members Michelle Hinchy and Trevor Devereux took a rare day off from the pager yesterday for a special reason. The couple switched their lifejackets and yellow wellies for wedding day finery to marry in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

However, the day could not pass without a stop at the lifeboat station and some photos with Kilmore Quay’s Tamar class all-weather lifeboat, Killarney. Between them the bride and groom have over 50 years voluntary service with Kilmore Quay RNLI. Michelle, currently the station’s only female crew member, is also training to become a lifeboat navigator. Trevor is a qualified lifeboat Coxswain and mechanic, and alongside his volunteering duties, recently took up the role of Regional Resilience Coxswain Mechanic working at other lifeboat stations when needed.

Speaking following their wedding, Michelle said: ‘We had a wonderful day. The RNLI is a huge part of our lives, and it was odd not to be carrying a pager today but fantastic to celebrate with all our family, friends and especially our RNLI family, some that had travelled from far and wide to be here.’

Members of the station team were delighted to join the happy couple on their special day and the whole crew extend their best wishes to Trevor and Michelle for continued happiness in their life together.

John Grace, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘Michelle and Trevor are very much a part of our RNLI family here in Kilmore Quay. All of us at the station send them our congratulations and wish them fair winds and following seas.’

Bangor RNLI lifeboat came to the aid of two people on Sunday after their 8m yacht broke down in Ballyholme Bay on Belfast Lough.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard at 1.21 pm to assist two people on an 8m yacht with engine failure.

The crew launched the lifeboat helmed by John Bell and crew members Kelly Clarke, Kyle Marshall and Glenn McMahon on board at 1.30 pm and made their way to the casualty vessel in nearby Ballyholme Bay. The weather conditions were good, with clear visibility and an easterly wind of Force 3-4.

The two men onboard who were on a day leisure trip got into difficulties when their yacht suffered engine failure. The men dropped the anchor to secure the yacht. However, as the anchor was dragging and the boat drifted towards the shore, they required help and raised the alarm.

On arrival, the crew assessed the situation and observed that the men were safe and well, and both were wearing lifejackets.

A decision was made to a secure tow line and bring the vessel back to the nearest safe port at Bangor Marina.

On returning to the lifeboat station, Bangor RNLI Helm John Bell commended the lifeboat and shore crew involved and said: ‘Today was a very satisfactory rescue and the volunteer crew are delighted to have been able to help the two men involved. We would encourage everyone planning a boat trip on the water to ensure your engine is well maintained. And always carry adequate tools and spares to fix any problems you encounter and ensure you have enough fuel for your journey.’

Fethard RNLI came to the aid of two people on Saturday afternoon (20 May) after their 20ft boat broke down.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at approximately 2.45 pm. The sailors raised the alarm after their boat encountered engine difficulties and broke down north of Templetown Bay at Stonewall Bay, south of Duncannon.

The lifeboat helmed by Mick Roche and with crew members Thomas Stafford and Mick Cooper onboard, launched immediately and made their way to the scene.

Weather conditions at the time were good with flat calm seas, a Force 1 south easterly wind with good visibility and some cloud.

On arrival, the crew observed that both onboard were wearing lifejackets and were safe and well.

Having assessed the situation, a decision was made to tow the vessel to the nearest safe port at Passage East.

Speaking following the call out, Fethard RNLI Helm Mick Roche said: ‘The two onboard reacted as they should when they encountered engine problems and raised the alarm, and we would commend them for being prepared by having a means of communication and for wearing their lifejackets.

Kilmore Quay RNLI responded to two separate requests from the Irish Coast Guard for assistance with pleasure craft in the vicinity of the Saltee Islands over the weekend.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney, by the Irish Coast Guard at 2.00 pm on Saturday to assist a rigid inflatable boat (R.I.B.) with five people on board that had lost steering. The lifeboat launched at 2:18 pm and made its way to the south side of the Great Saltee, where the crew of the R.I.B. had managed to tie on to a buoy and await assistance. All on board were safe and well. The lifeboat crew established a towline and brought the boat back to Kilmore Quay, arriving at 3.12 pm.

At 5.30 pm on Sunday evening, the crew responded to a request from the Irish Coast Guard to assist a lone sailor on an 8m yacht approximately six nautical miles southeast of Kilmore Quay. The yacht had experienced a navigation system failure. Arriving on the scene at 6.00 pm and after checking the person onboard was safe and well, a towline was established.

The yacht was brought back to Kilmore Quay harbour arriving at 7.25 pm.

The weather and sea conditions were good on both occasions.

Speaking following both callouts, Kilmore Quay RNLI Coxswain, Eugene Kehoe, said: ‘Even the best-maintained equipment can sometimes go wrong, so it is important always to be prepared for when it does happen as these people were. They did the right thing in calling for help when they did. I would urge anyone heading out to sea always carry a reliable means of communication, VHF, or a mobile phone in a waterproof case in case you need to call for help and always wear a lifejacket. If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

Two crew members and its group of ten passengers were rescued today (Friday 19 May) after the boat they were travelling in developed engine failure east of Ballycotton lighthouse.

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury was requested to launch by the skipper of the boat at 10.09 am when the passenger boat got into difficulty and was at risk of getting pushed onto the rocks.

Sea conditions were calm, with a very light northerly wind. With the passenger boat drifting towards the rocks the crew from Ballycotton RNLI quickly launched and were able to locate the stricken boat. After assessing the situation and confirming everyone on board was safe and well, a secure tow line was established and they were able to return the boat and its passengers to the safety of Ballycotton harbour by 11.15 am

Commenting on the call out Ballycotton RNLI Coxswain Eolan Walsh, who praised the quick reaction of the skipper said: ‘Thankfully all crew and passengers on board were wearing life jackets. Thanks to the skipper's experience we were quickly able to secure a tow line and prevent further risk to the passengers and damage to the boat. We would remind anyone planning a trip to sea that if you get into difficulty or see somebody else in trouble on the water or along the coast, dial 999 or 112 or use VHF radio CH 16 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

The lifeboat crew were made up of Coxswain Eolan Walsh, station mechanic Adam Hussey, Barry McDonald, Mike Kenneally, Claire McCarthy and Eolan Breathnach.

The Galway Bay RNLI volunteer crew carried out a training exercise with the University of Galway Clinical Simulation and Interprofessional Education Facility this week.

The exercise took place on a calm evening and involved the lifeboat crew being called to a cruiser where a member of the lifeboat crew played the part of the casualty with a traumatic leg fracture.

A busy evening on Galway Bay – RNLI Galway’s inshore lifeboat ‘Binny’ and crew taking part in a trauma simulation exercise involving a casualty on a cruiser, with a visiting cruise ship in the background

Departing the lifeboat station at Galway Port, the crew on board the inshore lifeboat ‘Binny’, travelled to the cruiser where they came aboard, assessed and stabilised the ‘patient’ using their casualty care check cards. The crew were observed by Professor Aidan Devitt, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Mr Mike Smith, Senior Technical Officer Skills and Simulation, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway. After returning to the lifeboat station, Mr Alan Hussey, Consultant Plastic Surgeon gave a briefing on managing burns and other traumatic injuries such as amputation or avulsion of limbs and digits.

Transferring the ‘patient’ to the lifeboat by stretcher as part of a trauma simulation exercise with the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway. From left: RNLI crew Stefanie Carr; Mike Smith, Senior Technical Officer Skills and Simulation; RNLI crew Seán Óg Leydon, Frank Leonard, Helm Dave Badger and Olivia Byrne.

The exercise also required the lifeboat crew to transfer the patient in a stretcher to the lifeboat. In a real-life situation, the lifeboat crew would have transported the casualty back to Galway Port for transfer to an ambulance.

Galway RNLI volunteer crew, from left: Frank Leonard, Stefanie Carr and Olivia Byrne assessing and stabilising a ‘patient’, Sean McLoughlin, who is also an RNLI crew member. The crew were observed by Professor Aidan Devitt, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Mr Mike Smith, Senior Technical Officer Skills and Simulation, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway as part of a trauma simulation exercise

The simulation exercise was part of ongoing engagement between the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and the RNLI crew and had been arranged by Prof Dara Byrne, Professor of Simulation Education, University of Galway who said: ‘We are delighted to continue our work with the RNLI team and support them in their valuable work. The management of trauma and burns in the very early stages can improve patient outcomes so it is important to get it right. The expertise provided by the two surgeons today during the simulation will make a difference to both the crew and their casualties. The Simulation Team and I are looking forward to our next educational session with the crew and to working with them in the state-of-the-art Simulation Facility at the University of Galway.’

Olivia Byrne, volunteer RNLI crew, said: ‘On behalf of the entire crew, I’d like to thank Professor Byrne for arranging for the consultants from Galway University Hospitals to take part in this exercise this evening. In the event of a call-out that involves the rescue of a patient with a fracture, burn or other traumatic injury, the patient will be brought to hospital in Galway to be treated by these doctors and their teams. Getting their insights into how patients are treated for these injuries helps us to appreciate the relevance of our first aid training and the importance of doing training exercises to put our learning into practice.'

Kilmore Quay RNLI last night came to the aid of an injured fisherman on board a fishing vessel 33 nautical miles south of Kilmore Quay.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney by the Irish Coast Guard at 10.23 pm to evacuate an injured person from a fishing vessel. The man was working on a 24-metre fishing trawler located 33 nautical miles south of Kilmore Quay when he suffered a serious injury to his hand.

The lifeboat under Coxswain Eugene Kehoe and with six crew members onboard, immediately launched and made its way to the scene, arriving at 11.45 pm. Once on scene, the casualty was assessed and then taken onboard the lifeboat where he was attended to by RNLI first aiders on the return journey to Kilmore Quay. The lifeboat arrived back in the harbour at 1.17 am where an ambulance was waiting to take the casualty to hospital.

Speaking following the call out, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain, Eugen Kehoe said: ‘This was a good outcome, and thankfully, conditions were calm and favourable. We want to wish the injured man all the best and a speedy recovery. I would also like to commend our volunteer crew who, despite the late call and darkness of night, did not hesitate to respond.’

The Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat crew involved in the call-out were Coxswain Eugene Kehoe, Philip Walsh, Aidan Bates, Nigel Kehoe, Trevor Devereux, Sean Furlong, Robbie Connolly and Deputy Launching Authority Eddie Byrne.

Bangor RNLI crew launched their lifeboat yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, 17 May) when a man fishing in a motor vessel became stranded after his engine failed at Briggs Buoy in Groomsport.

The inshore lifeboat was launched at 1.36 pm with Helm John Bell and crew members Davey Eccles and Andrew Gedge onboard. Conditions were calm at the time, with no breeze and good visibility.

On arrival at the scene and assessing the situation, lifeboat crew member Andrew Gedge boarded the casualty vessel after the man onboard could get the engine going to ensure a safe return to shore. The lifeboat crew then stood by the casualty vessel and escorted it to the nearest safe port at Bangor Harbour.

Bangor RNLI Helm John Bell commented on the call out: ‘This was a straightforward call out that ended well. We are always happy to launch for anyone in difficulty. What can seem straightforward can vary depending on the type of call out and the conditions on the day. We would always advise bringing a means of calling for help and that people keep their vessels and equipment maintained and checked regularly.’

Aran Islands RNLI Lifeboat launched last night (Tuesday, 16 May) to reports of kayakers in difficulty half a mile off Kilronan Pier. A member of the public raised the alarm after seeing them in trouble, and Shannon Coast Guard requested the lifeboat crew to launch at 7.55 pm.

The group of six kayakers with two kayaks, were quickly located on nearby rocks and due to their location, the lifeboat crew had to launch a Y-boat, a small inflatable rescue craft kept onboard the all-weather Severn class lifeboat. Using the small rescue craft, the lifeboat crew managed to get in close to the rocks and transfer all six casualties onboard the All-Weather lifeboat. Conditions on the evening were calm and the weather was dry.

On returning to Kilronan Pier, the group were medically assessed by a waiting doctor. Doolin Coast Guard and Rescue 115 were also in attendance at the scene.

Commenting on the successful callout, RNLI Coxswain Trevor Devereux said, ‘This was a good outcome, as it could have been a very different story. When kayaking, make sure to bring the correct equipment and that you tell someone where you are going. Always wear a lifejacket and make sure you have a means of calling for help. In this case, a member of the public raised the alarm when they saw something wrong, and thankfully, due to their vigilance, the group were rescued with no serious injuries.’