Skerries RNLI volunteers had a busy weekend with the coastguard requesting they launch their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat three times within 24 hours.
Shortly after 5.30pm on Saturday (5 September), Dublin Coast Guard tasked Skerries RNLI to respond to reports of a small angling craft with three men on board that had suffered engine failure between Lambay Island and Rush.
As the lifeboat crew were navigating towards the casualty vessel, they received an update from the coastguard that another angling boat had taken the casualty under tow and were returning them to the slipway at Rogerstown. The lifeboat was stood down and returned to the station in Skerries.
Shortly before 8.30pm, the volunteers in Skerries RNLI were tasked again, this time to reports of a person in distress in the water on the south strand in Skerries.
The volunteers launched the lifeboat and were making their way around the headland at Red Island when they received an update that a member of the public had assisted the person to the shore where they were receiving care from the emergency services. The lifeboat returned to the station and was washed down and made ready for the next call-out.
Shortly after 9.30am on Sunday (6 September), pagers sounded once again for the volunteer crew in Skerries following a 999 call to Dublin Coast Guard reporting that a swimmer was overdue returning to shore from the local swimming platform known as The Springers.
Shortly after the lifeboat arrived on scene, an update was received from the Coast Guard reporting that the man had been located safe and well on shore.
Speaking about the call-outs, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said: “It’s been a busy couple of days for our volunteers, and it shows that they never know what they might be responding to when the pagers go off. Thankfully all the call-outs this weekend ended with a positive outcome.
“We’d like to remind people, that if you see someone in trouble on or near the water, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.”
