The volunteer crews of Clifden and Achill Island RNLI joined with the Cleggan Coast Guard and Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 in a wide-scale search operation late on Monday night (24 August).
The call-out came at 10.30pm when members of the public reported seeing a distress flare launched in an area of water between Renvyle and Clare Island.
Over a number of hours, RNLI volunteer crew on three lifeboats and their coastguard colleagues carried out a comprehensive search of a large area of sea.
With no sightings or further reports of anyone in distress all assets were stood down around 1.15am and prepared to return to station.
Clifden’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat did not return to base, however, because the crew were retasked to an additional call at Killary Harbour.
Two hikers had descended Mweelrea Mountain, were stranded on the rocky shore and couldn’t find their boat in the darkness.
Clifden’s inshore lifeboat crew were able to locate the hikers, and once assured the two were uninjured and in good spirits, they transported the casualties back to shore at the south side of Killary Harbour.
The casualties were very grateful for the assistance of the lifeboat crew as they had been stuck for hours on the rocks in the darkness and they were in a very dangerous predicament.
Fergal Conneely, Clifden RNLI launch authority said: “I want to say a huge thanks to our volunteers for a long night. It was 3.30am when some of crew were going home for a few hours sleep and then into work.
“It can be a big sacrifice being an RNLI volunteer but it is one we accept willingly and with pride. If you find yourself in an emergency situation or spot someone else in trouble, please always call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard. We are ready to respond 24/7 to help save lives at sea.
Not long after resetting from a busy night saving lives at sea, the Clifden crew were out again on Tuesday morning (25 August) at 11am to assist a broken-down vessel East of Carraig na Rón.
After an assessment was carried out, and due to the vessel causing a navigational hazard, the decision was made to tow the boat to safety in Clifden Bay.
