Kilmore Quay RNLI rescued a casualty on the Great Saltee who was reported overdue yesterday (Monday, 18 November).
The Irish Coast Guard requested that the volunteer crew launch their all-weather Tamar class relief lifeboat, RNLB Irene Muriel Rees, at 11:30 a.m.
The lifeboat, under the command of Coxswain Aidan Bates and with four crew members onboard, arrived on the scene at 11:55 a.m. At the time, it was raining with a south-easterly force 4 wind and slight sea conditions.
The casualty, who had been on a small inflatable dinghy when he got into difficulty at sea, was quickly located on the rocks at the northwest end of the island in an area known as the ring. Due to the shallow waters surrounding the rocks, a decision was made to launch the lifeboat’s smaller inflatable Y-boat to access the area. Two crewmembers were transferred aboard to go ashore and assess the situation. The casualty was found cold but well and returned with the crew aboard the Y-boat to the lifeboat unaided. The lifeboat was soon underway back to Kilmore Quay harbour, arriving at 1pm where the casualty was transferred into the care of the National Ambulance Service.
Speaking following the call out, John Grace, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘We would like to wish the casualty well following their ordeal and commend the person who raised the alarm when they knew this person was overdue - that is always the right thing to do and we would encourage anyone with a concern for someone to never hesitate in making that call.
‘Inflatables are not designed for the sea as they can easily get swept out. We would encourage anyone planning a trip or activity at sea to prepare with the right craft and equipment and check the weather and tide conditions in advance. Always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device for your activity and always carry a reliable means of communication such as a VHF radio, or a mobile phone in a waterproof case. If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’
