Skerries RNLI rescued five children and four adults after responding to two separate incidents over the weekend.
Shortly after 6pm on Saturday evening (24 April), the pagers sounded following multiple 999 calls reporting that three children in the water trying to return from Shenick Island to the south beach after being cut off by the rising tide.
The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was launched and made its way around the headland at Red Island before heading for Shenick.
As the lifeboat approached the island, they could see the children making their way along the sand bar back towards the island.
A sea kayaker had seen the situation unfolding and landed on the island to convince the children to come out of the water and back to dry land.
The lifeboat was carefully manoeuvred into the shallow waters before the volunteer crew assisted the children, who were very cold but otherwise unharmed into the lifeboat and safely ashore where they were reunited with their parents.
Skerries RNLI towing the stricken motorboat to safety Credit: RNLI/Gerry Canning
Then on Sunday morning (25 April), shortly before 11.30am, the lifeboat was passing Rush Harbour en route to Malahide Marina to carry out a planned training exercise when the crew received a tasking to a motorboat that had suffered engine failure near the north beach in Skerries.
The lifeboat altered course and quickly navigated back to Skerries where after a short search they located the casualty vessel, a 17ft motorboat with four adults and two children on board, anchored off the north beach.
A tow was established and the vessel was brought safely alongside the harbour in Skerries.
Speaking about the callouts, press officer Gerry Canning said: “It’s been a very busy few weeks for the station, but our volunteers are always ready to respond.
“We’d like to remind everyone out enjoying the coast in the good weather to check the tides, and always carry a means of calling for help. If you see someone in trouble, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.”
