#RNLI - Fethard RNLI was involved in the rescue of six people yesterday evening (Monday 2 July) after two young girls drifted out to sea on an inflatable lilo.

The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their D class lifeboat at 8.31pm after two local women raised the alarm that they could see an airbed with two girls drifting out to sea off Duncannon Beach. With the wind blowing offshore, the airbed was blowing directly out to sea.

Four men, one of whom was the children’s father, had entered the sea and swam towards the girls.

With time of the essence, RNLI deputy launching authority Hugh Burke launched his own boat, which was nearer Duncannon, and made his way to the scene along with another local vessel.

Once there, he observed a windsurfer had made his way to the girls. One girl was on the lilo, and one of the four men who had swam out to help was holding onto the windsurfer’s board.

Burke took the girl and the swimmer onboard and brought them safely back to shore. On arrival, he was met by a shore crew member from Fethard RNLI who alerted him that a man, the father of the two girls who had been taken out of the water by a local swimmer, was in need of serious medical attention on Duncannon Beach.

The father had reached the airbed and rescued one of the girls. However, as he was swimming the half-mile back to the beach with his daughter, he too got into difficulty, and both were dragged under water.

One of the other men took the girl, who had taken on a lot of water, and made it safely to shore. That swimmer returned to the water to help but he too then got into difficulty as exhaustion from his efforts set in.

Meanwhile, a strong local swimmer, who had seen the incident unfold from his home, immediately got involved and went to the aid of this man, brought him to shore before going back into the sea and rescuing the father of the two girls.

As this was happening, a kayaker went to the aid of another man who had entered the water to help and was drifting 100m away from the others and was struggling. The casualty held onto the kayak as the kayaker brought him ashore.

The Dunmore East Coast Guard unit, which was also tasked, arrived on the beach just before the father and daughter were brought ashore. With the arrival of the coastguard unit and the Fethard RNLI lifeboat crew, casualty care was immediately administered by both teams.

The man was treated for hypothermia and for drifting in and out of consciousness. The girl was treated for inhaling a considerable amount of water. Both responded immediately to casualty care and were looked after by all the volunteers on scene until the arrival of an ambulance. They were then transferred to hospital for further treatment.

Speaking following the callout, Burke said: “With thanks to a huge community effort this evening, a tragedy was averted and we would like to commend all those locally who played their part in bringing the six people to safety. We also want to wish everyone who got into difficulty a speedy recovery following their ordeal.

“Time was of the essence this evening and from the raising of the alarm, to the local efforts to get to the scene to help, right through to the administration of casualty care, fortunately it resulted in a good outcome for all.

“We would like to remind everyone of the importance of respecting the water. We would ask the public to remember that inflatables such as lilos are designed for pools and not the open sea where they can be easily swept out by offshore winds and lead you into difficulty.

“Always wear a lifejacket, always carry a mean of communication and should you get into difficulty call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”

The rescue come days after Fethard RNLI officially named their new D class lifeboat Naomh Dubhán, which was funded entirely by the local community.

#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats were launched yesterday (Sunday 1 July) to assist two people on an inflatable dinghy near Brittas Bay beach.

The father and son had set off from the popular tourist beach to fish in a small inflatable dinghy but were carried offshore south around Mizzen Head with the wind and tide, and were having difficulties rowing back to land.

Fortunately, the father managed to get the dinghy ashore on an inaccessible beach after much effort.

Onlookers and family members were unable to get down the cliff to help them, so they waited until the inshore lifeboat came ashore at 5.30pm and was able to pick up the stranded man and son.

They were transferred to the all-weather lifeboat a short time later and assessed by lifeboat first aider Carol Flahive.

The Dublin-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 was also tasked to the incident.

The two casualties were cold and shaken after their ordeal, but required no further medical assistance. They were landed safely back at Wicklow lifeboat station at 6.30pm and were picked up by relieved family members after having a hot drink.

Speaking following the callout, Wicklow RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Tommy Dover said: “We would remind everyone planning an activity at sea to always respect the water. Always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. Always carry a means of calling or signalling for help.

“Check the weather and tide times before you go. Tell someone about your plans - where you intend to go and when you expect to return.”

#RNLI - Dun Laoghaire RNLI responded to a yacht with one man onboard on Saturday afternoon (30 June) when the skipper’s engine failed just outside Bray Head.

The volunteer lifeboat crew were called into action at 16.24pm following a report from the Irish Coast Guard.

The yacht was on passage from Arklow when engine trouble flared just outside Bray Head.

As the country is experiencing a heatwave, weather conditions were near perfect with clear blue skies and good visibility.

The lifeboat crew quickly arrived on scene and successfully towed the yacht and skipper, who was uninjured, safely back to Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Commenting after the callout, Dun Laoghaire RNLI coxswain Kieran Colley said: “The skipper of the vessel indeed made a good decision in calling for assistance. He was also wearing a lifejacket, which I’m always glad to see. I can’t stress enough how important it is to wear one.”

Later that same day, Lough Derg RNLI launched to assist a family of five on a 25ft cruiser with engine failure in Youghal Bay, off Garrykennedy on the eastern shore of Lough Derg.

Winds were northerly Force 1/2 and visibility was very good when the lifeboat launched at 6.47pm, arriving on scene just four minutes later.

The lifeboat crew — helm Eleanor Hooker, Dom Sharkey and Joe O’Donoghue — found the two adults and three children on board to be safe and unharmed, and wearing their lifejackets. The skipper of the cruiser had dropped anchor to prevent drift.

The cruiser had engine failure that required specialist attention and so the lifeboat volunteer took the casualty vessel under tow to Garrykennedy Harbour, where it was safely tied alongside at 7.13pm.

#RNLI - RNLI lifeguards and the inshore lifeboat crew from Portrush RNLI rescued a swimmer who got into difficulty off Portrush East Strand on Wednesday evening (27 June).

The lifeguards who patrol the Causeway Coast beaches daily between 11am and 7pm were finishing up for the day when a member of the public raised the alarm.

The male swimmer had been seen entering the water 300-400m west of the patrol zone, towards Whiterocks, when he got into difficulty and was struggling to stay afloat.

Lifeguards Josh McCaw, Albert Dallas, Marcus McKeag and Nicola McIlroy immediately ran with their boards up the beach in the direction of the casualty.

Portrush RNLI’s inshore lifeboat helmed by Ben Wilson, was on exercise at the time when the crew spotted the lifeguards and immediately made their way to the scene.

The casualty was taken onboard the lifeboat and then transferred into the care of the lifeguards.

RNLI lifeguard supervisor Karl O’Neill said the situation could have been different minutes later. “Firstly, we would like to commend the member of the public who raised the alarm when they spotted someone in difficulty and we would like to wish the swimmer well after his ordeal.

“We want to remind everyone that while our lifeguards are busy patrolling our beaches daily, it is important to remember and adhere to our key safety advice both in and outside the patrol time of 11am-7pm.

“We were fortunate yesterday evening to be still on the beach when this incident happened and thankfully it resulted in a good outcome.

“We want to encourage people that when you plan a trip to the beach to check weather and tide times before you go and if planning to go into the water, to swim at a lifeguarded beach, between the red and yellow flags.

“We want everyone to enjoy this beautiful weather and to come to our beaches but we want everyone to do that with safety in mind knowing to always respect the water and to remain vigilant. If you get into trouble, stick your hand in the air and shout for help and if you see someone else in trouble, tell a lifeguard. If you can’t see a lifeguard, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”

Elsewhere, Valentia RNLI volunteers launched their all-weather lifeboat yesterday afternoon (Thursday 28 June) to assist a 30ft motor cruiser with two people onboard, which had suffered mechanical failure.

At 2.37pm, Valentia Coast Guard requested Valentia RNLI's all-weather lifeboat to launch to the cruiser one mile south of Skellig Rock Little, Co Kerry. Weather conditions at the time were described as good with clear visibility.

Arriving on scene, a volunteer crew member was transferred to the casualty vessel to assist with setting up a tow, and the cruiser was towed safely back into Knightstown Harbour.

Speaking following the callout, Valentia RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Michelle Curran said: “With this stunning weather more people are taking to the water, we urge everyone to respect the water, always carry a means for calling for help and ensure all onboard know how to use it.”

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI’s new D class lifeboat is to be officially named Naomh Dubhán during a ceremony next weekend.

All are welcome to attend the event next Saturday 30 June from 2pm at the lifeboat station in Fethard, Co Wexford.

The €65,000 lifesaving vessel — which went into service in February this year — was funded following a community appeal supported by the people of Fethard, the Hook Peninsula and the New Ross area.

The ceremony of naming and dedication for the lifeboat will have representation from the many volunteers who make up Fethard RNLI, from operations to fundraising and management.

This invitation is being extended to the community to give thanks and recognition to their support in raising the funds needed for the new lifeboat.

The name Naomh Dubhán was chosen in recognition of the saint who came to the Hook Peninsula from Wales in 452 AD and established a monastery.

It is believed that St Dubhán lit the first warning beacon for ships on the Hook Peninsula shortly after his arrival. This beacon was maintained by monks for 700 years until Hook Head Lighthouse was built.

#RNLI - Enniskillen RNLI rescued two people on Lower Lough Erne after their 42ft cruiser broke free from its jetty during Storm Hector yesterday morning (Thursday 14 June).

Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of the inshore lifeboat at 6.42am, with the volunteer crew proceeding north to the stricken vessel close to the shoreline south of Rossigh.

With increasing winds through the night, the vessel had broken free from its mooring and some of the jetty was still secured to the boat.

The winds were starting to settle but they were estimated to be Force 6 or 7 when launching from the Lough Erne Yacht Club.

The lifeboat managed to refloat the vessel and brought it into safer water. The hire company then took charge of the cruiser with the lifeboat accompanying them to a sheltered location.

“With challenging conditions this morning the crews training was put into action and brought the two people and vessel to safety,” said Gary Jones, Enniskillen RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager.

Elsewhere, pagers sounded across the Irish Sea at Holyhead RNLI just after midnight on Thursday in the midst of the storm, with reports of an 18-metre yacht with mechanical failure west of the Skerries lighthouse off Anglesey.

At the scene, the lifeboat crew found the 60-tonne vessel, with two on board, had lost all power and was struggling to cope with the weather conditions, including southerly gale-force winds and spring tides.

The lifeboat undertook a tow of the stricken yacht, which was returning from the Isle of Man TT races back to her mooring at Holyhead. Both vessels arrived safely in port at 4.30am.

Speaking on behalf of Holyhead RNLI, press officer Vicki Owens said: “The weather was unseasonably rough, but our dedicated crew left their beds to help someone in trouble.”

The surprise Storm Hector was also responsible for blowing a yacht ashore on the Kerry coast, as previously noted on Afloat.ie.

#RNLI#RNLI - Arklow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched on Saturday evening (9 June) following a report of a lone swimmer in difficulty and being carried out to sea.

A concerned member of the public had been out walking at North Quay when they spotted the swimmer.

After alerting fishermen at the end of the North Pier, they called 999 an alerted the coastguard, who in turn tasked Arklow RNLI to launch at 10.22pm.

The lifeboat and her crew were underway and en route to the casualty within minutes. Some fishermen and others on the quayside maintained eye contact with the swimmer and were able to give the lifeboat volunteers assistance with location.

In rapidly darkening but calm conditions, the lifeboat crew located the casualty around a quarter mile south of Arklow Harbour, and were able to recover the now tiring swimmer using the rescue A-frame.

The casualty was brought ashore at Arklow lifeboat station and was handed over to the care of the waiting ambulance crew and gardaí. The swimmer was found to be in good spirits and was brought home a short time later.

“We would like to thank the member of the public and the fishermen who were out on North Quay last night,” said Mark Corcoran, community safety officer at Arklow RNLI. “Their early call for help allowed our volunteers to be able to make good time in getting to and recovering this casualty.

“We would like to encourage people to always remember to carry a means of calling for help and if they do spot anyone in the water who might be in difficulty to always call 999 or 112 and ask for coastguard.”

The RNLI recently launched its 2018 national drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water, which is now in its fifth year of encouraging the public to fight their instincts upon contact with cold water and learn to FLOAT:

• Fight your instinct to panic or swim hard
• Lean back in the water to keep your airway clear
• Open your body up, extend your arms and legs, pushing your stomach up
• Actions: gently move your hands and feet to help you float
• Time: in 60-90 seconds you’ll be able to control your breathing

#RNLI - Just two days before Carrybridge RNLI’s new inshore lifeboat had its naming ceremony, boat and crew launched to assist a cow that had fallen from a steep bank on Upper Lough Erne.

The lifeboat and rescue water craft launched at 3.30pm on Thursday afternoon (7 June) arrived to the cow and its owner, who had been trying to recover the animal from the Arney River without success.

Weather conditions had southerly Force 2 winds, with good visibility and cloudy skies.

After speaking with the farmer, the volunteer crew kept the animal close to the bank and helped to steer the cow towards a part of the bank where it would be able to get out.

After some careful coaxing, the cow was assisted in getting out of the river by the crew and the farmer’s family. The crew were thanked by the owners and the lifeboat and rescue water craft departed the scene at 4.14pm.

Then on returning to station, the RNLI crew were requested to aid a vessel which had broken down nearby. The crew assisted in towing this boat back to its private slipway.

“We are always happy to help the local community in situations where there is risk to both the public and animals,” said Tom Bailey, lifeboat operations manager at Carrybridge RNLI.

“We also advise everyone working close to the edge of water to take the necessary precautions. In this instance we were delighted that the cow was able to be recovered without injury.”

Elsewhere, Enniskillen RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Saturday 9 June) to assist a 23ft Bayliner that has lost engine power at the entrance into the River Erne which leads to Belleek.

The charity’s inshore lifeboat Joseph and Mary Hiley and rescue water craft arrived at the casualty vessel which had three people onboard, all of whom were safe and well.

The volunteer crew set up a tow to the lifeboat and towed the vessel to Aughinver.

Speaking following the callout, Enniskillen RNLI helm Aidy Kelly said: “It was a very successful recovery with our crew using the benefits of their winter training to recover the vessel and all onboard safely to Aughinver.”

#RNLI - Bundoran RNLI has rescued a kayaker who got into difficulty between Rossnowlagh and Creevy Pier yesterday evening (Thursday 7 June).

The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Malin Head Coast Guard at 8.11pm following a report that a kayaker was in difficulty.

Helmed by Michael Patton and with three crew members onboard, the lifeboat launched immediately and made their way to the scene.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 from Sligo was also tasked.

Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a low swell and slow northerly winds.

Once on scene, the lifeboat crew observed that the casualty, who had capsized from her kayak, had been taken from the water by a group of four to five other kayakers

The group had placed the casualty back on her kayak and were supporting her as they awaited the lifeboat’s arrival.

Once assessed by the lifeboat crew, she was found to be not in immediate danger, though she had taken on some water and an ambulance was requested as a precautionary measure.

The lifeboat brought the kayaker to Creevy Pier where Rescue 118 and an ambulance crew were waiting. The woman was further assessed by the helicopter crew before she was transferred into the care of the ambulance crew.

“We would like to wish the kayaker a speedy recovery and commend her fellow kayakers for raising the alarm and taking her out of the water and looking after her until we arrived,” Patton said.

“We would also like to thank our colleagues in the Irish Coast Guard and the ambulance service for their rapid response and attention to the casualty on scene.”

On the same day, the RNLI today launched its national drowning prevention campaign Respect the Water for 2018, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

#RNLI - Fenit RNLI’s lifeboat volunteer crew responded to a number of calls received from people experiencing difficulties in the sea over the past seven days.

The callouts included a person requiring medical assistance, another person getting into difficulty while swimming, and assisting a sailing vessel with mechanical problems.

The all-weather lifeboat was launched twice near Ballydavid in West Kerry, bringing the seafarer and their vessel to the safety of a local pier.

Meanwhile, the inshore lifeboat was used to attend to an incident involving a swimmer who got into difficulty at a local beach in Fenit.

In another callout this week, a medical emergency arose close to another beach in Fenit. Shannon Coast Guard also attended.

Upon safe arrival back on shore an ambulance was waiting on Fenit Pier to give medical attention to the casualty.

Fenit RNLI lifeboat operations manager Gerard O’Donnell said that despite their busy week, the volunteer crew were pleased and relieved that all callouts had resulted in good outcomes.

The spell of good weather had naturally increased the number of people using the beaches and surrounding coastline.

“Fenit RNLI encourages all sea users to be extra vigilant while using the sea,” O’Donnell said, adding that “people should never be embarrassed or afraid to call the RNLI or coastguard if there is a concern that anyone is in danger at sea.”