At 21.04 last night, Clifden RNLI’s pagers sounded to launch in response to reports of two broken down jet skis between Inishbofin and Cleggan with three people on board.
Weather conditions were favourable at the time and the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat launched at 21.12 under helm Daniel Whelan and crew members Chris Nee, Owen Hayes and Ian Shanahan on board.
On arrival at the scene, they found that one jet ski had broken down and when the other one had attempted to tow it, the rope had become tangled in the second jet ski’s impeller, leaving both watercraft disabled. With darkness falling, the friends alerted the Coast Guard by mobile phone and once the lifeboat arrived in scene they towed them both safely back to Derryinver Pier.
Clifden RNLI Community Safety Officer Miryam Harris said after the launch ‘This shout shows the importance of carrying a means of contacting the rescue services in case of emergencies, in this case a mobile phone. With a busy summer ahead it is worth reminding all water users to wear a personal flotation device, check their equipment, always carry a means of calling for help on your person in a waterproof cover and let someone know when you expect to return’.