Arklow RNLI volunteers faced a busy spell last week, responding to three separate incidents during the warm spell of weather.
The first of the three incidents occurred on Sunday afternoon 12 July, when the volunteer crew were paged following reports that a kayak with two on board had capsized close to the shoreline south of Arklow. The casualties had managed to scramble onto nearby rocks.
The lifeboat launched immediately and made its way to the scene, where the crew rescued both individuals from the rocks and brought them back to Arklow Lifeboat Station via road.
Casualty care was administered by the crew, after both kayakers were assessed and found to have minor injuries.
On Tuesday 14 July, the volunteer crew were tasked again, this time to an EPIRB alert indicating a vessel potentially in difficulty.
Arklow RNLI joined the local coastguard unit and the rescue helicopter in conducting an extensive search of the reported area.
After a thorough and coordinated operation, the directional finder indicated the signal was coming from Arklow Harbour, most likely from a moored vessel. All units were stood down once the search area was fully cleared.
The third call was received by Arklow RNLI at 4.40pm last Thursday 15 July, to attend to a yacht south of Arklow harbour which had lost engine power.
After a full assessment of the situation by coxswain Ned Dillon, the decision was made to tow the yacht into the nearest safest port of Arklow Harbour, with the one person on board the casualty vessel being delivered home unharmed.
Dillon, who was on board for all three shouts, said: “I’d like to thank our brilliant crew for a busy week of call-outs for the station. We worked well together to make a good outcome for all of them. It’s obviously a big year for us with the 200th anniversary of the station here in Arklow.
“We’ll be celebrating it this August Bank Holiday with our station open day from 12.30pm to 5.30pm at Arklow Lifeboat Station. Everyone is welcome to come down for our Nautical Cosplay Competition. Come dressed up as your favourite nautical character — pirate, mermaid or lifeboat crew member. There will be prizes for the best dressed.
“Arklow RNLI is ready to respond 24/7 to anyone who is in distress in or around the water. Please don’t delay in looking for help — you could save a life by calling 999/112 at the first sign of trouble.”
