#rnli – Wicklow RNLI have become the first Irish lifeboat station to have a rescue featured in the charity's #SaveWave campaign. Some of this summer's most dramatic rescue stories featuring volunteer lifeboat crews have been shared with nearly one and a half million people through the charity's innovative social media campaign.

Launched during August, the campaign has already surpassed its original target of sharing RNLI rescue stories with one million people through Twitter and Facebook. The latest rescue story is from Wicklow and features a man suffering from suspected fume inhalation, being assisted and evacuated by volunteer lifeboat crew from Wicklow RNLI.

The #SaveWave campaign encourages the public to share RNLI rescue stories on Facebook and Twitter to create 'waves' of awareness for the lifesaving work that the charity delivers. To help make these waves, members of the public sign up using their social media accounts.

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Opeations Manager Des Davitt, said: 'The #SaveWave campaign is all about sharing rescue stories with the public. It is so important that people hear about the lifesaving work that the RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crews carry out every day, as the charity relies on public donations to keep on saving lives.

'We are delighted that the RNLI have chosen a callout from Wicklow to feature in this new campaign and that we are the first Irish one. During the incident the lifeboat crew used their casualty care training to make the man comfortable before transferring him onboard the lifeboat and back to shore to meet a waiting ambulance. The man has since been released from hospital."

Getting involved in #savewave is easy, visit savewave.rnli.org and sign up with a Facebook or Twitter account – or both. Then, two specially selected RNLI rescue stories will automatically be shared through the individuals Facebook or Twitter accounts each week.'

The campaign is not about donating money and signing up to #SaveWave is free. It is about raising awareness of RNLI rescues, especially amongst those who don't usually hear about the great work the volunteer lifeboat crews carryout.

The #SaveWave campaign runs until Sunday 29 September 2013.

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts and inland in both Ireland and the UK.

#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist three people after their 38ft cruiser ran aground in Slevoir Bay, close to Terryglass, at the northern end of Lough Derg.

At 17.450hrs on Wednesday afternoon, September 4, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist three people, after their 38ft cruiser ran aground close to Terryglass, at the very northern end of Lough Derg.

The lifeboat launched at 17.53hrs with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Peter Clarke and Jason Freeman on board. Winds were south westerly, Force 3. The lifeboat came alongside the cruiser at 18.17hrs. The vessel was aground on a rocky shelf, in less than two foot of water. The lifeboat transferred an RNLI volunteer to the casualty vessel. The three people on board were unharmed but anxious, they were wearing their lifejackets. The RNLI crew member reassured everyone onboard, then checked their boat for any damage.

When the RNLI crew member was satisfied that the boat was not holed, the lifeboat took it off the rocks and towed it into safe water. Before releasing the tow, the skipper was asked to check drives, forward and astern and steering. Then, with a lifeboat crew member still on board, the lifeboat accompanied the cruiser to the public harbour in Terryglass, where she was left, tied up safely alongside.

Deputy Launching Authority, John Kelly, advises boat users to keep 'up to date charts of the lake onboard'.

The Lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 19.35hrs.

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI carried out a medical evacuation of an unwell man from a survey vessel off the Wicklow coast in the early hours of yesterday morning (2 September).

The alarm was raised after the man was suspected to have been overcome with fumes on a survey vessel working near the Codling Buoy. The all-weather lifeboat launched at 2.45am and was alongside the survey vessel at 3.12am.

Conditions in the area at the time were described as moderate sea with wind southwest Force 3.

The casualty was transferred onto the lifeboat by stretcher and as the lifeboat returned to Wicklow, the crew administered first aid and monitored the casualty.

Due to the low tide in the harbour at the time, the casualty was transferred to the inshore lifeboat and landed ashore at 3.50am. He was met on arrival by a waiting ambulance crew who took him to hospital.

Speaking after the call-out, Wicklow RNLI lifeboat operations manager Des Davitt said: "This was a typically professional response by the volunteer crew of Wicklow lifeboat, who launched within seven minutes of being paged."


The all-weather lifeboat crew launched under coxswain Nick Keogh with mechanic Brendan Copeland, Ciaran Doyle, Carol Flahive, Paul Sillery, Graham Fitzgerald and Peter McCann on board. The inshore crew were helm Barry Spencer, Dave O'Leary and Brian Sinnott. 

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI carried out a search of Wicklow Bay on Saturday night (31 August) after the Irish Coast Guard received a 999 call to report a distress flare sighting.

Both Wicklow's all-weather and inshore lifeboats were requested and launched just before 9pm and a search of the shoreline from the Six Mile Point and bay was conducted.

Conditions in the area at the time presented a calm sea state and there was good visibility.



After an extensive search of the area nothing was found. The lifeboats were stood down and returned to the lifeboat station shortly before 10pm.


Speaking after the call-out, Wicklow RNLI coxswain Nick Keogh said: "We made contact with some anglers on Kiloughter beach and spoke to the crew of a passing yacht in the search area and they hadn't seen anything."



The crew on the inshore lifeboat were helm Graham Fitzgerald, Dean Mulvihill and Peter McCann. The all-weather lifeboat crew were coxswain Nick Keogh, mechanic Tommy Murphy, Ciaran Doyle, Dave O'Leary, Carol Flahive and Brain Sinnott.

#RNLI - Portaferry RNLI had a busy start to the weekend with two call-outs last Friday (30 August).

The first call was received just before 3pm from a 5m Shetland open-top fishing vessel with two men and one child on board, who had lost power and run onto rocks near the entrance to Ardglass Harbour in Co Down.



The volunteer crew were on the water by 3.05pm and arrived on the scene 15 minutes later. Weather at the time was cloudy with good visibility and Force 4 northwest winds.



When the lifeboat crew arrived at the scene, the two men and the child had managed to climb onto the rocks to safety where they were met by a member of the coastguard.



The fishing vessel had lost power and by the time the crew could attempt to start the auxiliary engine the boat was washed onto the rocks. The lifeboat crew could do nothing to salvage the quickly sinking boat and remained at the scene until the two men and the child had been taken to safety.



The second call of the day was received at 9pm from a man and a teenager aboard a 27ft yacht that had lost engine power and was adrift close to the Fairway Buoy at the entrance to Strangford Lough in Co Down.



The volunteer crew launched at 9.07pm and were with the stricken yacht at 9.55pm after conducting a short search. The weather was fair with Force 4 to 5 northwest winds.



The lifeboat crew attached a line to the yacht and then proceeded to tow it nearly five miles to the safety of Portaferry Marina where they arrived at 11.20pm. The yacht was then securely moored in the marina and the two people on board safely put ashore.



Portaferry RNLI lifeboat operations manager Brian Bailie said: "It was certainly a busy start to the weekend for our volunteer crews and thankfully everyone was returned home safely.

"The skipper of the yacht which lost power at the mouth of Strangford Lough exercised good judgement calling for assistance when he did rather than attempting to sail back in what can be extremely tricky waters."

#Swimming - Open-water swimmer Carol Cashell became the first person to swim around Bere Island when she completed her gruelling charity challenge on Saturday morning (31 August).

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Cork city resident had plenty of experience to fall back on when taking on the challenging 24km course around some seriously rocky and exposed coastline, setting out at 6.50am for an early start.

But she made short work of the feat, making it round the island in a blistering 7 hours 14 minutes.

Cashell was accompanied by RNLI crew members Marney T O’Donoghue, Sean Bawn O’Sullivan, Cian Murphy and Alan Cody and supported by her own team of Owen, Ray and Rob from Cork City.

The Castletownbere lifeboat Annette Hutton accompanied her for the final leg of the swim, and she was warmly welcome by her relatives, friends and RNLI supporters when she reached the finish line.
 
"This is a marvellous achievement and we are delighted that Carol completed the swim around Bere Island without a hitch," said local lifeboat fundraising secretary Sheila O’Driscoll.

"It is great for our local lifeboat that Carol is using her swim to raise funds for us and we are very grateful to her."

Lifeboat station mechanic Marney T O’Donoghue made a presentation to Cashell on behalf of the RNLI at a gathering in the lifeboat station. 

Speaking afterwards, the swimmer thanked all who had supported her on the day and helped make her latest challenge a reality.

#rnli – The RNLI all-weather lifeboat at Dun Laoghaire launched this afternoon when a MAYDAY call was received from a yacht in Dublin Bay.

The 30-foot yacht had been sailing between the Baily Lighthouse and Dun Laoghaire when it was in collision with another yacht sailing in the opposite direction at around 3.30pm. The yacht was holed and became dismasted. The skipper issued a MAYDAY radio distress call which was received by the Irish Coast Guard's Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin.

The Dun Laoghaire All-Weather lifeboat (ALB) with five volunteer crew on board launched at 3.45pm and the Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter (R116) based at Dublin Airport was also tasked.

The lifeboat arrived on scene minutes later to the casualty vessel that had a number of other boats standing-by. An RNLI crew-member was put on board and a salvage pump from the lifeboat was prepared as there was concern that the yacht could sink.

The wreckage of the yacht's mast was cleared to avoid causing harm to those on board or further damage to the hull. The casualty was then able to proceed to Dun Laoghaire under it's own power with an escort from the lifeboat.

The yacht was berthed safely at 5pm and the lifeboat stood-down. Nobody was injured in the incident.

#RNLI - The history of Arklow's lifeboat station from 1826 to the present is recounted in a new book to be published this coming November.

To the Banks & Beyond is written by renowned local writer and historian Jim Rees, who put the project together over a number of years.

A limited run of very collectable hardback copies of the book is being made available for booking prior to the launch, and Arklow RNLI's fundraising branch committee is now inviting presages.

Only 100 copies will be printed at a cost of €25 plus P&P, though a paperback edition (€15 plus P&P) will also be produced. Orders can be placed by contacting Arklow RNLI at [email protected] or via Facebook, or by calling Tony Fennell at 086 256 9787 or Tom Nolan at 086 161 2037.

The book will also be available from Dee-Jay Publications.


#Diving - Divers across Britain and Northern Ireland are being called on to help the RNLI with research into participation and attitudes to safety in the sport by taking part in a new online survey.

The RNLI, in partnership with the British Diving Safety Group (BDSG), is asking divers and dive instructors in the UK to take 10 minutes to complete the online survey, which looks at their reasons for participating in diving, how often they take to the water, preferred methods and locations, experience and training, awareness of possible hazards and use of safety measures.



The findings will be used to help the RNLI and BDSG develop tailored and relevant safety messages for the diving community, to help make the sport even safer.

Last year alone, 314 diving incidents were reported to the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC). 

The survey, being undertaken by Substance on behalf of the RNLI, launched on Tuesday 27 August and will run for nine weeks, during which time anyone who dives in the UK – no matter how often or what level of experience – is invited to take part.


To supplement the online survey, face-to-face surveys will be conducted at dive sites, charter boat launch and departure points, and at Dive 2013, the NEC Dive Show in October. In-depth interviews and focus groups will also be conducted. Divers wishing to take part in these are encouraged to contact Substance via the survey website.



RNLI coastal safety manager Nick Fecher, who is running the project, explained the reasoning behind the research.



"Diving is a hugely popular sport but accidents do happen. A total of 314 diving incidents were reported to BSAC last year and the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews have rescued 96 divers and saved 13 divers’ lives in the past five years," he said.

"By carrying out this research, we hope to understand more about how and why people dive, what they know about the risks and what safety measures they take. We’re hoping to hear from divers of all levels of experience, so we can then develop really targeted and relevant safety advice to help them enjoy their sport as safely as possible.



"Coastal safety is a key part of the RNLI’s remit of saving lives at sea – by offering important safety advice to people taking part in coastal activities like diving, we hope to prevent incidents from happening in the first place and, ultimately, save lives."

All who participate in the survey are offered the option of free entry into a prize draw, with the first prize of a DX dive computer, kindly donated by Suunto Diving UK, and a second prize of an Abyss 22 regulator, kindly donated by Mares. Winners will be chosen by Substance using a random number generator by 15 November.

#RNLI - A volunteer crew member from Courtmacsherry RNLI found himself involved in a lifeboat call out miles from home this week when he went to the assistance of yacht involved in a collision off Cumbria yesterday (29 August).
 
Barrow RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat when Liverpool Coastguard requested assistance following a report of a collision between a 28ft yacht, Shola, and a large vessel some 13 miles off Walney Island in Morecambe Bay. 

Also making his way to the scene was Kevin Young, skipper of the Windcat 6 with two crew, who was 3.5 miles from the incident when the call for assistance was received. 

It was unknown if there was any damage caused to either vessel, but the yacht skipper - a lone sailor - was believed to be suffering from shock.


Once on scene, Young transferred one of his crew aboard the casualty yacht to take command and took off the yachtsman, who was showing signs of shock. They then made their way at speed to Barrow-in-Furness where they met the Barrow lifeboat, which then took over the casualty care.

Liverpool Coastguard had also requested the attendance of a rescue helicopter from RAF Valley, and upon its arrival the casualty was airlifted from the lifeboat onto the aircraft and transferred to Furness General Hospital for assessment.



An RNLI crew member from Barrow was then put aboard the yacht with the crewman from Windcat 6 and the vessel was sailed to Roa Island, where it was assisted to moor up on a casualty mooring by the inshore lifeboat.



"The last thing I thought I would be doing at my day job would be getting involved in a call-out with the RNLI but that’s exactly what happened," said Young, who works with wind farms off the English coast but serves as a member of the volunteer lifeboat crew when home in Courtmacsherry.

"When I spoke to the lifeboat crew they seemed surprised that I was able to brief them exactly on what we had done and how we had everything ready to hand over to them, so I explained to them that I was a deputy coxswain back home on our all-weather Trent class lifeboat and they understood.

"This callout shows that you never forget your training and the desire to help those in trouble on the sea," he added. "The skipper of the yacht was clearly in shock and needed assistance and thankfully with all the agencies working together we were able to get him medical attention and transferred to hospital quickly and safely.

"It’s good to know that RNLI lifeboat volunteers are the same wherever you go."