Displaying items by tag: RNLI
Four of the eight rowing boats involved in a triathlon got into difficulty as strong wind over tide caused dangerous waves which swamped the boats and capsized one. The boats were spotted by members of the Wexford Harbour Boat Club who had safety boats in the water as part of their weekly sailing practice. The Wexford RNLI Lifeboat was training at the time and came to the assistance of the rowers, some of whom were in the freezing water for ten minutes. Conditions were challenging with a southerly force 6 and wind over tide which resulted in seas of 3 foot waves, making it very difficult for the rowers. All rowers were brought ashore.
One hour after the callout, a man was spotted falling from Wexford bridge, at 1:09pm. The quick action of the public and the gardai ensured that the lifeboat, some of whose crew were still at the station was able to launch within minutes of the man entering the water. With the help of the gardai on the bridge who kept a visual on the man the lifeboat crew were able to locate him. The man was unconscious when lifeboat volunteer Frank O'Brien, jumped into the water and pulled him into the lifeboat. First aid was immediately adminstered and the casualty was brought back to the lifeboat station and met by a waiting ambulance.
The incident occurred shortly after 10pm when the man was walking on a sandbank approximately one mile from Strand Road in Sandymount when he became aware that he was cut-off by the rising flood tide. The Irish Coastguard service that co-ordinates marine rescue received a phone call from the casualty and the inshore lifeboat was launched at 10.20pm.
A search involving Gardai and coastguard shore units was already underway and the ILB began combing the area with the assistance of searchlights and white parachute flares. The casualty relayed his position to the ILB crew via the Dublin Coastguard radio service and was located within 20 minutes.
The ILB crew took the casualty on board and brought him to Dun Laoghaire one hour after the call-out. He was unhurt in the incident and did not require hospital attention.
The new inshore lifeboat was named "Realt Na Mara" by broadcaster Pat Kenny and his wife Cathy at a ceremony last Saturday. The €35,000 craft was donated privately and this evening's call was the second today. Earlier, four people on a small powerboat got into difficulties off Bulloch Harbour in Dalkey.
Tonight's incident is not an infrequent occurrence as the sandbanks on Sandymount Strand have tricked other walkers in the past as the incoming tide floods the lower-lying beach area closer to the shore and depths become impossible to walk, especially in surf.
"The casualty was very lucky to escape injury or worse," commented Stephen Wynne, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Dun Laoghaire RNLI. "There was less than two hours remaining before high-water but at that stage the sandbank would have been completely covered. Sea-temperatures on the East Coast are still less than ten degrees and the chances of survival would have been slim".
Baltimore Lifeboat Rescues Man Overboard
Valentia Coast Guard alerted the Baltimore lifeboat station at 12:43pm and both the inshore lifeboat Bessie and the all-weather lifeboat Hilda Jarrett put to sea. The twin engined Atlantic 75 which has a top speed of 32 knots, reached the casualty within 20 minutes under the direction of Helmsman Youen Jacob.
Crewman Ronan Callanan administered oxygen to the stricken fisherman stabilising his condition, which had been serious due to long immersion in water. Further medical attention was offered by all weather lifeboat crewman Jerry Smith when it arrived on scene 20 minutes later.
Given the seriousness of the fishermans condition it was decided that an airlift was the most appropriate course of action and a rescue helicopter was called.
Helmsman Youne Jacob, commended the Captain and crew of the fishing boat in retrieving the fisherman from the water, which was made even more difficult by the choppy sea conditions prevailing.
The Inshore lifeboat then returned to Baltimore Harbour, However the allweather lifeboat remained at seas, as another distress call was received from a fishing vessel adrift 30 miles offshore.
In current weather conditions it will take them two hours to reach the vessel and several more to tow her back to shore.
Onboard the inshore lifeboat were Helmsman Youen Jacob, crewmen Ronan Callanan and Tadhg Collins.
On board the all weather lifeboat are coxswain Aidan Bushe, Cathal Cottrell, Jerry Smith, Ronnie Carty and father and son team Pat and Diarmuid Collins
Terry Johnson Recognised for his Work with RNLI Ireland
Approximately forty Life Governors of Irish Water Safety were in attendance at the ceremony. They included former Minister Bobby Molloy, former Director of the Coast Guard Captain Liam Kirwan, former Chairman of the National Safety Council Cartan Finnegan to name but a few. Also in attendance was Commodore Mark Mellett DSM, Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service, Mr. Chris Reynolds current director of the Coast Guard.
Guest Speakers were Mark Mellett, Director of the Naval Service, TJ Mc Carron, Ballybunion Community Rescue Boat, Eddie Breen and County Manager of Wexford Co Co.
Skerries RNLI Lifeboat was tasked last night at 8pm to reports of an upturned hull in the water off Donabate Co Dublin. The lifeboat was launched within six minutes and with the help of the Coast Guard Helicopter "Rescue 116" quickly located the object in the water. The object turned out to be a racing mark that was not floating correctly. The boat returned to station, refuelled and was ready for service before 10pm
Howth Lifeboat Assists Speedboat Captured on Video
On Sunday night, Howth Inshore Lifeboat assisted two people aground in a five metre speedboat North of Malahide estuary in Co. Dublin. Scroll down for the three minute RNLI video of the rescue.
In a joint operation in March, Howth Coast Guard and Howth lifeboat rescued a teenage girl who collapsed on Howth Head. The teenager had walked down a 100 foot steep cliff path to Jameson Beach on Howth Head with her friends when she collapsed. Gardai arrived on the scene and requested Coast Guard assistance to extract the casualty. Video and RNLI Video here.
Dun Laoghaire RNLI Station Names New D Class Lifeboat
One of the buisest RNLI lifeboat Stations in the country names its new D class Lifeboat 'Realt na Mara' next Saturday, April 30th.
The Dublin Bay based Dun Laoghaire lifeboat station was in action as recently as Sunday 17 April 2011 when RNLI lifeboat volunteers saved two men and two women after their speedboat hit rocks on Killiney Bay. More on that Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat rescue here.
The new lifeboat will be named at 12 noon at the lifeboat station on Dun Laoghaire's East Pier and there will be celebrations afterwards at the National Yacht Club.
The lifeboat is to be named by Mr and Mrs Pat & Kathy Kenny. RTE presenter Pat Kenny and his wife Kathy have been long-standing supporters of the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboats.
The €35,000 inshore lifeboat has been largely funded through a contribution made locally. Stephen Wynne, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager will be accepting the lifeboat into the care of the lifeboat station during the ceremony says; “ The naming of our lifeboat is a very special occasion for the station. It is our way of thanking the public for their generous support and how the funds raised are used.
We are very proud to be the custodians of a brand new lifeboat and we will honour the trust and investment that has been placed in us. Our new vessel will carry our volunteer lifeboat crew out to sea to save lives and bring those in trouble safely home.”
The D class lifeboat is part of the RNLI’s inshore fleet. It measures five metres in length and can carry three crewmembers onboard. It is a fast, light weight inflatable that is small and highly manoeuvrable, making it ideal for rescue close to shore. It can also be righted by the lifeboat crew in the event of a capsize. All are welcome to attend the naming ceremony.
There will be a special service of dedication and blessing and the lifeboat will put to sea after the ceremony. Réalt na Mara will be on service along with the Dun Laoghaire All Weather lifeboat Trent class lifeboat Anna Livia. Last year Dun Laoghaire lifeboat launched fifty times and brought sixty people to safety.
Related Safety posts
RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland
Safety News
Rescue News from RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland
Coast Guard News from Ireland
Water Safety News from Ireland
Marine Casualty Investigation Board News
Marine Warnings
Red Bay RNLI Station Name New Atlantic 85 Lifeboat
Red Bay RNLI lifeboat Station names its new Atlantic 85 Lifeboat the 'Geoffrey Charles' next month on Saturday, May 28th.
The busy lifeboat station was in action as recently as Sunday 17 April 2011 when RNLI lifeboat volunteers saved two men after their vessel capsized off the North Antrim Coast.
The two men were on passage from Ballycastle to Scotland in a 9 metre landing craft. Their cargo shifted resulting in the vessel capsizing throwing the two men into the water. More on that Red Bay Lifeboat rescue here.
The new lifeboat will be named at 3.30pm at the lifeboat station and there will be celebrations afterwards at Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club.
Related Safety posts
RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland
Safety News
Rescue News from RNLI Lifeboats in Ireland
Coast Guard News from Ireland
Water Safety News from Ireland
Marine Casualty Investigation Board News
Marine Warnings
11 Kayakers Rescued by Portrush Lifeboat
The callers stated that they could see a group of twelve kayakers in difficulty off Portballintrae, Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland.
Belfast Coastguard called out the Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Team and requested the launch of the Portrush RNLI lifeboats.
On arrival the Coleraine Coastguard Rescue team kept the kayakers under observation and directed the Portrush RNLI inshore lifeboat to the Kayakers. It was quickly established some of the group had become exhausted and suffering from sea sickness. Eleven of the group where transferred onto the large all weather Portrush Lifeboat whilst the Inshore Lifeboat escorted the one remaining kayaker back to Portballintrae Harbour.
The Portrush Lifeboat then transferred the eleven rescued kayakers who were mainly teenagers to the safety of Portrush Harbour.
Luckily none of the group required any medical attention.
Portrush lifeboat station adds:
Weather conditions were blustery and there was quite a swell off the coast. There was a North West wind coupled with a strong ebb tide. The tide was flowing against the wind, making conditions for the kayakers extremely difficult to return to shore. The Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was launched first but it became clear the All-weather Lifeboat (ALB) was going to be needed to assist with the recovery of the party.
The ILB recovered 3 kayakers and returned them to Portballintrae. The ALB recovered the rest of the party and took them to Portrush Harbour.
The kayakers are safe and well, apart from suffering chronic sea sickness
Robin Cardwell Lifeboat Operations Manager said
'The fast response of the volunteer RNLI Lifeboat Crews from Portrush Station undoubtedly saved the lives of these kayakers. The sea and wind conditions made it virtually impossible for them to return to shore. Without the fast response of the crews at Portrush, this would have had a very different outcome'
Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Rescues Four as Speedboat Hits Rocks
Four people were rescued by the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat earlier today when their small powerboat hit rocks off Killiney Beach in south county Dublin. Nobody was injured in the incident that occurred shortly after 11am while the two men and two women were enjoying a pleasure outing.
The 22-foot open powerboat hit the submerged rocks two hours after low-tide and the collision caused damage to the engine. The crew contacted the Irish Coastguard who alerted the RNLI at Dun Laoghaire and the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) launched within ten minutes.
The casualty vessel dropped anchor close to the rocks to avoid being driven onto the beach by the fresh breeze and flood tide. On arrival, the ALB launched its daughter boat with two crew that passed a tow-line to the casualty that was then brought to Dun Laoghaire.
"Before taking a boat-trip, its important to check for local knowledge that will help avoid significant hazards," commented Stephen Wynne, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Dun Laoghaire. "The four people rescued were all wearing life-jackets and followed the correct procedure in calling for assistance."
