Youghal RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch at 2.48pm on Friday afternoon (31 May) to reports of two children on an inflatable toy craft that was blown out to sea off the Strand beach in East Cork.
The Irish Coast Guard’s Waterford-based helicopter Rescue 117 were also in attendance and had located the casualties in the water a mile offshore.
Once on scene, the volunteer lifeboat crew assessed the situation and noticed that it was two adults on an inflatable toy that was being blown out to sea due to a strong offshore breeze.
The lifeboat crew helped the two people onboard the lifeboat and they were brought ashore at the front strand, into the care of Youghal Coast Guard who were awaiting their arrival.
While the lifeboat crew making their way back to station, a second request came in from the Irish Coast Guard to reports of a kayaker being blown out to sea off Caliso Bay, some two miles south of Whiting Bay.
The weather had a calm sea state but with a strong offshore breeze. The lifeboat crew located the owner and their kayak and assisted them back to Whiting Bay Beach.
Youghal lifeboat operations manager John Hearne said: “When there is a strong offshore wind, you can quickly find yourself a long way from the shore and it can be extremely difficult to get back and you can quickly find yourself in danger.
“We want to remind the importance to always tell someone if you are entering the water and to carry a means of communication.”