Displaying items by tag: RNLI
Jet Skiers in Difficulty Rescued by Donaghadee RNLI
Donaghadee RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew assisted two people to safety this morning (1 January) after they got into difficulty on their jet ski and a member of the public raised the alarm.
The volunteer crew were paged at 11.42am by Belfast Coastguard for immediate launch of the RNLI All Weather Lifeboat Saxon upon reports from a member of the public in Ballyhalbert Bay that a jet ski with two people on board appeared to be in trouble.
The lifeboat crew proceeded to the reported location, due west of Ballyhalbert Beach and approximately one mile North of Burial Island where two men were assisted onboard the lifeboat and their jet ski was taken under tow to Ballyharbert Harbour.
They were wearing appropriate clothing for the conditions and conditions at the time were Westerly 6-8 with a rough sea.
Donaghadee RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Peter Irwin said, ‘ Following the call for assistance we were able to locate the jet ski with two people onboard quickly in what was worsening conditions, thanks to the quick thinking of a member of the public alerting the Coastguard.’
‘We would remind anyone going to sea to carry a means of communication in case of emergency, and let someone know when they are due to be back. Thanks to our volunteer crew who gave up their New Years Day plans in response to the page.’
Surfer Caught in Rip Current Rescued by Rosslare Harbour RNLI off Wexford Coast (VIDEO)
Rosslare Harbour RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched this afternoon (1 January) at 1.15pm to go to the assistance of a surfer caught in a dangerous rip current.
Two surfers had got caught in the rip current off Curracloe beach in Wexford. One of the surfers managed to get back to the beach where she quickly raised the alarm. With a strong south westerly force six to seven wind, the stranded surfer was soon a mile off shore.
Launched in minutes, the Rosslare Harbour lifeboat was joined on scene by Rescue 117, who located the lone surfer from the air and directed the lifeboat crew to the young man.
RNLI volunteer crew lifted the surfer to safety on board the lifeboat and provided warm and dry clothing for him on the return to the lifeboat station. He was met there by ambulance personnel who provided additional care.
Speaking after the incident Rosslare Harbour RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Jamie Ryan said, ‘It is wonderful to start the year with a successful rescue and thanks to the quick action of the surfer who made it safety ashore, we were on scene with the Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 in minutes and were able to bring the young man to safety.’
#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI launched twice in the space of a few hours yesterday (Friday 29 December) — firstly to provide a medevac from Heir Island, and later to assist bodyboarders in difficulty at Barleycove.
The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat Alan Massey following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 11.16am to provide medical assistance and evacuation to a woman who fell on Heir Island off the coast of West Cork.
Once on scene, the crew administered casualty care before transferring the patient to the all-weather lifeboat and returning to Baltimore to meet a waiting HSE ambulance crew.
Conditions at sea during the shout had a north-westerly Force 6-7 wind and a one-metre sea swell, heralding Storm Dylan’s approach this weekend.
The crew launched a second time, at 4.18pm, after a member of the public alerted that three bodyboarders were in difficulty off Barleycove, near Mizen Head in West Cork.
The wind had eased considerably since the first callout, with a south-westerly Force 3-4, but there was a rough sea state with a swell of 3-4m.
At 4.45pm, with the lifeboat four miles west of West Calf Island, the crew were asked to stand down by the Irish Coast Guard after the three bodyboarders had made it safely ashore.
Speaking following the callouts, Baltimore RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Kate Callanan said: “With strong winds forecast over the coming days, the Irish Coast Guard strongly advises to exercise caution in coastal areas and reminds people to ‘Stay Back, Stay High and Stay Dry’.
“If you see someone in difficulty in the sea of along the shore call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”
The volunteer crew on the first callout were coxswain Kieran Cotter, mechanic Jerry Smith and crew members Aidan Bushe, Don O’Donovan, Simon Duggan and Kieran Collins. Ay the lifeboat station were Kate Callanan and John O’Brien. Crew on the second callout were Cotter, Smith, Bushe, O’Donovan, Eoin Ryan and David Ryan.
Red Bay RNLI Called Out to Walkers on Fair Head in Freezing Temperatures
Volunteer lifeboat crew with Red Bay RNLI were called out this evening (Thursday 28 December) to reports that two walkers were stranded on the Boulder Field at Fair Head, Antrim, in freezing temperatures. Red Bay RNLI located the missing walkers and illuminated the scene before the coastguard helicopter which had flown in from Scotland was able to winch them to safety.
Red Bay RNLI was requested to launch at 5.10pm when a third walker was able to get to safety and raise the alarm for the stranded walkers on Fair Head. With temperatures plummeting, Red Bay RNLI launched both their lifeboats and when on scene at Fair Head, illuminated the Boulder Field.
With the strong searchlight from the lifeboat directed onto the cliff face the two walkers were quickly identified around 150 metres up from the sea. The lifeboat guided the coastguard helicopter to the walkers and they were then winched to safety.
Commenting on the callout Red Bay RNLI Coxswain Paddy McLaughlin said, ‘we would strongly advise people to think twice about walking or hiking on difficult terrain in freezing temperatures. Every year we answer a number of callouts to walkers or hikers on Fair Head but in this weather the risks are even greater. The surface is very slippy and difficult to navigate and access to the area can be quite challenging for search and rescues crews.’
‘We are always on call to help those in trouble or difficulty and thankfully this time one of the group was able to raise the alarm.’
First Call For New Carrybridge Lifeboat To Capsized Canoeists
#RNLI - Carrybridge RNLI’s new B-Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat Douglas, Euan & Kay Richards launched on its first callout yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 27 December 2017) along with the station’s rescue water craft.
The volunteer lifeboat crew based on Upper Lough Erne were requested to launch at 2.31pm following a report from Belfast Coastguard of two people in the water near the old boat house at Crom Estate after their Canadian canoes capsized.
Helmed by Thomas Graham with crew members David Reid and Kyle Boyd, the new lifeboat made its way to the scene along with the rescue water craft helmed by Chris Cathcart and crewed by Adrian Quigley.
Weather conditions at the time were overcast with Force 4-5 winds and fair visibility. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service was also in attendance.
As the RNLI volunteers arrived on scene at Crom, a member of the public informed them that the man and woman who came off the canoes had managed to swim ashore with the assistance of two members of the public who had entered the water to assist them. The canoeists were suffering from signs of hypothermia and were being warmed in vehicles.
The RNLI crew secured their vessels and made their way to the casualties as members of the ambulance service arrived on scene. The two casualties were transferred to the ambulance with the assistance of the RNLI crew where they received casualty care treatment.
Speaking following the callout, Carrybridge RNLI helm Thomas Graham said: “The water is very cold at this time of year and the casualties had been in the lough for about five minutes after coming out of their canoes and making their way back to the shore. Thankfully they made it safety ashore and received treatment.
“We would recommend if going afloat in this time of year in any canoe, that lifejackets and drysuits are worn to help protect against the cold waters, and that people also carry a means of communication such as a VHF radio or mobile phone to raise the alert should they get into any difficulties.”
The Douglas, Euan & Kay Richards went on service early last month, replacing Duckhams 2001 which has been used to rescue people on Lough Erne in County Fermanagh since 2015.
2017 Memorial by Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat To The Crew Lost in 1895 Trying to Rescue SS Palme
On Christmas Eve at Dun Laoghaire's East Pier, the annual memorial was held by the crew of the Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat, and the Irish Coastguard for the lifeboat crew lost on Christmas Eve 1895 attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme – a Finnish/Russian sailing ship travelling from Liverpool to South America to import hardwood.
Scroll down for photo gallery by John Coveney below
The gathering was addressed by Fergal Keane of RTE who narrated the story of the disaster.
Rector Asa Bjork Olafsdottir O’Hanlon and Fr. Paddy Dundon conducted an ecumenical service.
There was a big attendance of RNLI and Irish Coastguard members and local people as well as Minister of State, Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD and Councillors Cormac Devlin and Barry Ward.
Man Saved By Wexford RNLI After ‘Hours’ Clinging To Quay Wall
#RNLI - A man who slipped into the water alongside Wexford Quay was rescued by Wexford RNLI after clinging to the quay wall for several hours.
The man, in his late 30s, was spotted by gardaí before 4am on Friday (22 December) and the lifeboat was quickly launched to their report.
Lifeboat volunteer crew member Frank O’Brien entered the water to lift the casualty into the lifeboat, as he was wedged between a trawler and the quay wall.
When on board, the crew administered casualty care and brought the man back to Wexford lifeboat station, where an ambulance then took him to hospital for further treatment.
The man was said to be “extremely grateful” to the gardaí and lifeboat crew, and said it felt like he had been in the water for several hours.
Wexford RNLI urges people to respect the water and be vigilant when walking near the water's edge. If you see someone in difficulty, ring 999/112 and ask for the coastguard.
Dun Laoghaire RNLI Will Remember Irish Lives Lost In 2017 At Annual Christmas Eve Ceremony
#RNLI - The volunteer crew at Dun Laoghaire RNLI will hold their traditional Christmas Eve ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers that died on service in 1895 at noon this Sunday.
The crew will remember all those who lost their lives around the coast and inland, and this year will be paying a special tribute to their Irish Coast Guard colleagues, the crew of Rescue 116, who died tragically last March.
Taking place at the lighthouse end of Dun Laoghaire’s East Pier, the short ceremony will include music, an ecumenical blessing, a contemporary newspaper account of the 1895 tragedy and a piped lament.
Both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats stationed at Dun Laoghaire will launch and the crew will lay wreaths at sea close to the pier.
The ceremony is a long-standing Christmas Eve tradition that remembers the lives of the 15 volunteer crew that died when their lifeboat capsized in gale force winds while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme that had run aground off Blackrock, Co Dublin.
All lives lost around the Irish coast and on inland waterways in 2017 will be remembered during the ceremony.
#WaterSafety - The Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI have issued a joint safety message for the festive season to remind people to stay safe when they are in or near the water, and to remember some basic safety advice to use if they see someone in trouble or get into difficulty themselves.
Speaking ahead of the holiday period, Irish Coast Guard operations manager Gerard O’Flynn said: “Many people will be engaging in outdoor activities along the coastline. The simple safety message is: Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry.
“Christmas Day swims are a popular pursuit and we would urge the public to only participate in organised swims where medical support and lifeguards are available.
The three Rescue Co-ordination Centres based in Malin, Valentia and Dublin, along with the coastguard helicopter service and volunteer units, will remain operational over the holiday period.
“And we would remind the public that if you see anybody in danger at sea, on the coast or on cliffs to call 112 and ask for the coastguard,” O’Flynn added.
The RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews will also remain on call over the Christmas period “but what would really make them happy is if everyone has a safe Christmas,” said the RNLI’s head of engagement Gareth Morrison.
“At this time of year a lot of people take part in charity swims and the water temperature is a lot lower than in the summer months. The RNLI lifeboat crews launch to a lot of people who never expected to end up in the water when they left the house. Callouts can be to people getting cut off from the tide, to slips or falls while walking near the coastline.
“We run our drowning prevention campaign ‘Respect the Water’ all year round and ask people to follow some simple advice and know what to do in an emergency. Further information is also available at www.respecthewater.com.”
If you fall into cold water unexpectedly, remember to fight your instincts, not the water.
People follow the same instinct when in cold water - they gasp, thrash about and swim hard. But this increases chances of water entering your lungs and increases strain on your heart.
If this happens, fight your instinct and float. The initial shock will pass quite quickly within 60–90 seconds and when you have regained control of your breathing, you can then try swimming to safety or calling for help. You’ll have a far better chance of staying alive.
If taking part in a swim, always take your time to slowly walk into the sea to allow your body time to acclimatise. Stay in the shallow water when you first go in to reduce the severity of cold water shock.
If you see someone in trouble in the water, fight the instinct to go in yourself. Call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
If out for a walk by the water or along the coast, remember:
- Be wary of all edges around the sea and waterside. Slips and falls happen in all locations; it is not just high cliff edges that are a risk.
- Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back.
- Take care when walking in dark and slippery conditions.
- Always take a means of calling for help.
- Always check the weather and tides.
Larne Lifeboat Assists Two In Motorboat Breakdown Off Antrim Coast
#RNLI - Larne RNLI launched to the aid of two people on Monday morning (18 December) after their 33ft motorboat had engine difficulties en route from Carrickfergus to Greencastle.
The all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparran was requested to assist the casualty vessel west of the Maidens and launched at 8.44am under coxswain Frank Healy and with five crew members.
Weather conditions at the time were described as dry with little swell.
Once on scene, volunteer crew member Michael Kane went aboard the casualty vessel and worked with the two sailors to establish a towline so that it could be brought into the shelter of Larne Harbour.
As the lifeboat was approaching the harbour, the inshore lifeboat Terry also launched to assist in bringing the vessel alongside Wymers Pier at East Antrim Boat Club.
Speaking following the callout, Healy said: “Both of the men onboard were fine and we were pleased to see they were both wearing their lifejackets.
“We would remind anyone using a motorboat to always have a means for calling for help, to always check the weather and tide times and to make sure someone ashore knows where you are going and who to call if you don’t return on time.”