Youghal RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to launch at 4.45pm on Tuesday (27 August) following reports that two swimmers had got into difficulty while swimming at Green Hole at the mouth of Youghal Bay and who were taken out by a current.
The inshore lifeboat, helmed by Jack Nolan and with crew members Liam Keogh and Declan Troy onboard, launched and quickly arrived at the scene where the crew spotted the casualties floating and calm.
Weather conditions were described as fair with a south-westerly wind and a moderate sea state.
They were brought onboard the lifeboat and back to the lifeboat station. The crew provided casualty care assessment and saw that the casualties were very cold from exposure to the cold sea temperature but otherwise seemed in good health.
Also tasked were Youghal Coast Guard, who made their way to Youghal lifeboat station with the other member of the group. The casualties were then handed over to them for further medical assessment.
Speaking after the call-out, John Hearne, Youghal RNLI lifeboat operations manager said: “When you hear a swimmer is in difficulty, you are immediately concerned as they are already in the water and you don’t know what way the current will bring them.
“The swimmers did the right thing by laying backwards and floating and remained calm. The crew assembled rapidly along with shore crew and a tractor driver and they got the lifeboat out very quickly and safely.
“We also want to thank the member of the public who aided the swimmer and responded in the right way by raising the alarm and ringing the coastguard.”
