Ballyglass RNLI came to the aid of a lone sailor on Tuesday night (3 September) after they experienced a knee injury.
The all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist the sailor, who was four miles north-west of Eagle Island off the north Mayo coast and some 14 nautical miles from the lifeboat station.
The volunteer crew received the alert just before 5pm and the lifeboat was underway shortly after under coxswain James Mangan and five crew.
Weather conditions at the time were challenging, with a small craft warning in place, a north-westerly Force 5-6 wind and the sea choppy with swells.
When the lifeboat arrived on scene, the crew assessed the situation and communicated with the sailor, who was fit to sail into Broadhaven Bay single-handed but required help mooring.
The lifeboat proceeded to escort the sailor into calmer waters in Broadhaven Bay, where it was safe for one of the volunteer crew to be transferred to the casualty vessel to bring her to the nearest safe moorings at Ballyglass Pier.
There, the lifeboat crew were met by Ballyglass Coast Guard Unit and the ambulance service, who took over the care of the casualty once ashore.
Speaking following the call-out, Ballyglass RNLI coxswain James Mangan said: “We were pleased with the safe return of everyone and we would like to wish the sailor well and commend and thank our colleagues from the ambulance service and Ballyglass Coast Guard Unit and our own shore crew.”
The lifeboat crew this call-out with Mangan were mechanic Allen Murray, navigator Stephen Togher and crew members John Gaughan, Pat Coyne and Seán Reilly.
