Lifeboat launches in Bangor, Arranmore, Newcastle, Portaferry and Fethard have added to a surge in rescue call-outs for RNLI stations throughout Ireland in recent days during this extended period of warm and dry weather.
On Sunday afternoon (19 July), Bangor RNLI volunteers came to the aid of a gentleman and his dog as they encountered difficulty onboard their yacht during a passage from Donaghadee to Belfast.
The vessel was taking on water but it was determined it could safely travel under its own power to the to the Boatyard pontoon at Bangor Marina on Belfast Lough.
The inshore lifeboat Ruby Robinson and crew shadowed the casualty until it was safely berthed, and helped to remove the water ingress with a salvage pump. The boatyard then moved the casualty yacht by crane for repairs.
File image of Newcastle RNLI’s inshore lifeboat at sea | Credit: RNLI/Newcastle
Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Newcastle RNLI rescued three people who were blown offshore on Saturday afternoon (18 July).
Volunteers were returning from exercise after supporting Kilkeel RNLI’s open day when they diverted to follow up on a report of two people blown out to sea on a paddleboard and another person on an inflatable who was trying to assist them.
The lifeboat crew immediately spotted the casualties some 400 yards off the shore at the Downs Road Car Park, and they were quickly transferred onto the lifeboat and returned safely to shore and into the care of Newcastle Coastguard.
File image of Portaferry RNLI’s inshore lifeboat at sea | Credit: RNLI/Portaferry
Portaferry RNLI’s volunteer crew pagers sounded twice on Sunday afternoon (19 July), first to reports of a person in the water just north of the lifeboat station in Strangford Lough.
The lifeboat arrived on scene within minutes, by which time the casualty had made it ashore and was already in the care of Portaferry Coastguard team.
A little while later, the inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V launched again, this time to the aid of an 8m pleasure craft with four on board which had developed steering issues around five-and-a-half miles east of the lough entrance, in the Irish Sea.
Once on scene, the crew of the casualty vessel were found to be well prepared and already using their emergency tiller. The lifeboat stayed close by and escorted the vessel as she crossed Strangford Bar, at which point the crew were happy to continue the rest of their journey without assistance.
File image of Arranmore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Myrtle Maud | Credit: RNLI/Arranmore
In Donegal, the volunteer crew of Arranmore RNLI experienced a busy week responding to four requests to assist, with three medical evacuations and a possible sighting of a person in difficulty in the sea.
The first call came on Wednesday evening (15 July) to respond to a possible sighting of a person in the sea, some half a mile from the lifeboat station. The lifeboat launched and conducted a search of a wide area for 45 minutes.
Having searched the area thoroughly and found no evidence of anyone in trouble, it was concluded that this was likely a false alarm with good intent.
The second call came on Thursday afternoon (16 July) to assist an injured person on Iniskeel island, off Portnoo. On reaching the island, the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 was in the process of airlifting the casualty for further assessment in hospital, and the lifeboat returned to anchor following refuelling at Burtonport.
Call number three came on Friday evening (17 July), a medevac for an injured person on Inniscoo island. Having attended the casualty, the crew transferred the injured person to the lifeboat and on to Burtonport to a waiting ambulance.
The fourth call of the week was another medevac, this time on Sunday evening (19 July). The casualty was transferred from the lifeboat to a waiting ambulance in Burtonport for assessment in University Hospital Letterkenny.
File image of Fethard RNLI’s inshore lifeboat at sea | Credit: RNLI/Fethard
Also on Sunday, Fethard RNLI in Co Wexford came to the aid of two people after their 17ft boat broke down a mile off Hook Head.
The lifeboat was launched from Slade shortly before noon and made its way to the scene, where the crew observed that while the two onboard were safe and well, the boat could not make any safe onward progress.
Due to the vessel’s close proximity to a shipping lane and with other vessels in the area, the helm decided the safest course of action was to tow the boat to the nearest port at Duncannon.
Fethard RNLI helm John Colfer said: “This was the first call-out for Clara Bracken which gave her a great opportunity to put her training and skills attained to date into action.
“We would encourage anyone planning a trip to sea to always go prepared. Always let someone know where you are going and when you are due back. Always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device for your activity and always carry a means of communication such a VHF radio or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”
