Kinsale RNLI rescued a kayaker on Saturday afternoon stuck on the rocks off the eastern side of the outer harbour, known as Hangman’s Point, between the popular tourist spots of Kinsale and Oysterhaven.
The Irish Coast Guard requested that the volunteer crew launch their inshore lifeboat at 3:11 p.m. on Saturday (27 July).
Weather conditions were described as good at the time, with a force two south-westerly wind, a slight sea swell and an ebbing tide.
The lifeboat, helmed by Lenny Fourie and with crew members Felix Miller and Finn Bowen on board, made their way to the scene where, on arrival, they observed the casualty had managed to swim ashore after capsizing their kayak. One of the crew swam ashore to the casualty, who was cold and grazed from the rocks but otherwise safe and well. She was safely transferred onto the lifeboat along with their fellow paddler. They were brought back to Kinsale RNLI lifeboat station at approximately 5 pm. The crew returned to the scene to retrieve the kayak to prevent it from being a potential hazard.
The lifeboat was requested to launch once again last night (Monday, 29 July) at 8.44 pm following a report of an injured walker along the rocks at Sandycove. The lifeboat crew responded and assisted the Coast Guard and National Ambulance Service, which brought the casualty to safety.
Speaking after the first call out, Kinsale RNLI Helm Lenny Fourie said: 'We would like to commend the paddlers for not going out alone and for carrying a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch so that they could raise the alarm when they got into difficulty.
'As the summer continues, we would remind people to go prepared like these paddlers, always wear a personal flotation device appropriate to the activity you are doing. It is also helpful to label all your equipment with your details so if it is lost or found drifting, the Coast Guard can check you are safe'