Wexford RNLI came to the aid of a teenager who got cut off by the rising tide while swimming to a raft on Friday afternoon (25 July), possibly preventing a drowning on World Drowning Prevention Day.
The rescue was also thanks to the quick thinking of the casualty’s friend ashore, who contacted the Irish Coast Guard when the casualty realised it was too dangerous for him to attempt to swim ashore from the raft as he wasn’t a strong swimmer.
Wexford RNLI were paged by the coastguard at 4.57pm and were on scene in the Ferrycarrig area within 20 minutes. The crew quickly located the casualty and took him onboard the D class lifeboat and then safely ashore.
The crew praised both the teenagers for alerting the coastguard as any number of outcomes could have unfolded if he had attempted to swim ashore.
Speaking after the rescue, lifeboat helm Ger Doran highlighted the water safety messages that the RNLI, Irish Water Safety and the Irish Coast Guard have put out as part of World Drowning Prevention Day.
They are urging anyone planning a trip on or near water to go prepared and help make sure they can come home safely: “This rescue demonstrates the correct action of calling the coastguard on 112/999 if someone is in difficulty on or near the water.”
The three organisations say they want everyone to enjoy recreational activities associated with the water, but are pleading with people to know the risks, plan and prepare, and to look out for each other.
