Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was launched this afternoon following reports of two kayakers in difficulty, one in the water off Cods Head on the Beara Peninsula, West Cork.
Fortunately, the kayakers had both a VHF radio and a PLB (Person Locator Beacon) and were able to raise the alarm immediately. Valentia Coastguard Maritime Coordination Rescue Centre requested assistance from Castletownbere Lifeboat, the Castletownbere Coast Guard unit, the National Ambulance Service and the Shannon-based AW 189 Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 115.
Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat ‘Annette Hutton’ was paged 11:57 and launched at 12.03 under the command of Coxswain Dean Hegarty with mechanic David O’Donovan, and crew Joe Cronin, John William O’Donoghue, Donagh Murphy and Dion Kelly. The weather was calm but visibility was poor at only 100 metres.
A short time later, the two kayakers managed to scramble ashore, but one of the kayaks was damaged. The lifeboat and helicopter were both stood down at 12.27 and the lifeboat returned at 12.55 and was refuelled and made ready for service. Meanwhile, the Castletownbere Coast Guard unit attended the two kayakers, and both were found to be safe and well.
The Lifeboat Launching Authority, Brendan O’Driscoll, commented, ‘This call-out demonstrated the importance of having the correct safety equipment when going to sea – these two kayakers had both a VHF and PLB and were able to raise the alarm with no difficulty, and, therefore, the emergency services were able to respond immediately. He also praised the lifeboat crew for their very quick response.’
