Youghal RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers in East Cork launched twice over the May Bank Holiday weekend, to join the rescue efforts for a boat aground on rocks and a kayaker in difficulty.

Late on Saturday afternoon (4 May) the crew were requested to launch their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to take part in a multi-agency response following reports of two people aboard a 5m pleasure craft with engine failure that ended up on rocks near Goat Island beach in the Youghal Bay area.

Helmed by Jason Ansbro alongside crew members Jason Innes, Joe O’Connor and Ivan Bryan, the lifeboat arrived on scene shortly before 6pm in favourable weather conditions and a falling tide.

Two lifeboat crew members entered the water and swam ashore to the boat, which was high and dry on the rocks. They observed that the two men onboard, who were both wearing lifejackets, were safe and well and did not require any medial assistance.

It was decided that, due to the position of the boat, the casualties should be airlifted to safety by the Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 and handed over to Ardmore Coast Guard, who were waiting close by.

Before leaving the scene, the lifeboat crew secured the casualty boat, which had to be left at the scene.

Youghal RNLI’s inshore lifeboat approaches the casualty kayaker on the rocks, with another kayaker nearby in the shadow of Sampson Crane in Ardmore Bay on Monday 6 May | Credit: RNLI/Mel Mullane

As the long weekend drew to a close on Monday (6 May), the lifeboat was called out at 3.55pm to reports of kayakers in difficulty at Sampson Crane in Ardmore Bay.

The inshore lifeboat, again helmed by Jason Ansbro with crew members Jack Nolan, Jason Innes and John McCarthy, arrived within 10 minutes of launching and one crew member was put into the water to swim to the rocks to assess the casualty, who was standing waiting for assistance.

He did not require any medical attention and was escorted to the lifeboat along with his kayak that had filled with water and capsized.

Weather conditions at the time were fair with a calm sea state and light breeze. Rescue 117 was also in attendance and proceeded to do a sweep of the area to confirm there were no other casualties.

The crew that remained in the lifeboat approached another kayaker who was close by but did not require any assistance. They proceeded to follow the lifeboat to Ardmore Pier where they were handed over to Ardmore Coast Guard awaiting their arrival.

Speaking after the Monday call-out, Youghal RNLI helm Jason Ansbro said: “This was a straightforward shout with a great outcome. With the weather becoming finer it is so important to always have a means of communication within reach at all times.”

Lough Derg RNLI launched on Sunday afternoon (5 May) to assist a family of four on board a 28ft cruiser reported to be on fire.

Following the request by Valentia Coast Guard just before noon, the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier was under way by 12.16pm with helm Eleanor Hooke and crew Doireann Kennedy, Joe O’Donoghue and Tom Hayes on board. The wind was westerly Force 2 and visibility was very good.

As the lifeboat was launching, the coastguard informed the volunteers that the family — two adults and two infants — had been taken off the casualty vessel and that Killaloe Coast Guard had also launched to assist.

At 12.26am the lifeboat crew could see the casualty vessel just south of Lough Derg Navigation Mark E. The family had transferred onto a 18ft fishing boat which was standing off close by.

A few minutes later the lifeboat came alongside the fishing vessel and found the casualties to be safe, unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.

The skipper of the casualty vessel informed the lifeboat crew that when he noticed smoke and an acrid smell coming from the engine housing, he immediately shut down the engine and with that, the smoke ceased. They were unable to deploy their anchor as it required the engine to be running to operate.

Once satisfied that sufficient time had elapsed and the engine had cooled, the RNLI helm permitted the skipper and an RNLI volunteer to board the casualty vessel.

The skipper found that a piece of cloth was in contact with the engine’s exhaust system, and identified it as the source of the smoke and smell. The cloth was removed and the casualty vessel’s engine started immediately when tried.

The lifeboat informed the coastguard of their findings and of the decision to take one adult and the children onto the lifeboat from the fishing vessel, and to accompany the casualty vessel to Dromineer Harbour with the skipper and an RNLI volunteer on board.

However, at 12.45pm the engine on the casualty vessel failed. As Killaloe Coast Guard were now on scene, the RNLI helm requested that the mother and two infants be transferred to the coastguard lifeboat and be taken ahead to Dromineer.

Given the remote location and the inability to secure the cruiser, the helm made the decision to take the casualty vessel under tow to the closest safe harbour in Dromineer, where it was safely tied alongside at 1.44pm.

Christine O’Malley, lifeboat operations Manager at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users: “As we are now heading into the summer season, remember to have your vessel fully serviced before embarking on your journey. If you find yourself in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”

Carrybridge RNLI Inshore Lifeboat on Lough Erne came to the rescue of two people on a 40-foot vessel that was taking on water near the Killyhevlin Hotel on Saturday, May 4.

The Belfast Coastguard had requested the launch of the lifeboat Douglas Euan & Kay Richards to assess the situation. The volunteer crew navigated through North Easterly winds of Force 1 and good visibility to reach the vessel's last known location. However, the Lough Erne Coastguard Rescue Team informed them that the vessel was heading back to Bellanaleck. The lifeboat proceeded to Bellanaleck and found the grounded vessel secured to the jetty. The crew made sure the two people on board were safe and well.

Upon inspection, the crew found the vessel was taking in water within the bow area, but it wasn't sinking due to being grounded. The crew used the lifeboat's salvage pump to lower the water level within the bow of the vessel, allowing for repairs to be made the next day.

Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Helm at Carrybridge RNLI, advised boat users to plan their route and carry out regular checks of their vessels before setting sail. He also urged boat users to have a means of calling for assistance and to have life jackets for all on board. Cathcart ended his statement by reminding the public to dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard if they see someone or are in difficulties themselves while on the water.

After completing the mission, the lifeboat returned to the station, where it was refuelled, washed down, and left ready for service again.

Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat The Austin Lidbury was called to action off the Cork coast on Saturday, May 4th, following a request for assistance from the crew of a 24ft power boat that had suffered mechanical failure. The boat was on passage from Penzance to Kinsale when the incident occurred. 

The lifeboat launched at 6:34 pm after receiving the request from Valentia Coast Guard and arrived on the scene at 8:05 pm. With moderate wind, smooth conditions, and excellent visibility, the six volunteer crew members were able to assess the situation and speak with the two people on board. 

After careful consideration, it was decided that the best course of action was to tow the vessel back to Crosshaven. A secure tow line was established, and the 24ft boat was towed at a speed of 6 knots back to Crosshaven. With the assistance of Crosshaven Harbour Master Kieran Coniry, the boat was brought alongside Port of Cork pontoon in Crosshaven at 2:00 am. 

The crew then made their way back to Ballycotton, arriving at 3:15 am, where the boat was washed down and refuelled, ready to go back into service. The volunteer lifeboat crew included Mechanic Adam Hussey, Navigator Síle Scanlon, Mike Kenneally, Adrian Erangey, and Áine Flynn. 

Reflecting on the callout, Coxswain Eolan Breathnach said, "Thankfully, conditions were excellent, and both people were wearing lifejackets and had called for help as soon as they encountered engine difficulties." He advised people to take the correct water safety advice for the activity they are taking part in and always make sure they have a means of raising the alarm if things go wrong. 

The RNLI provides an on-call, 24/7 search and rescue lifeboat service, and they continue to urge people to adhere to relevant water safety guidance for their activity. More information can be found at www.rnli.org.safety.

The Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat was called to action on Friday 3 May, after a power boat suffered engine failure just south of Ballycotton Island. The Austin Lidbury was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard at 5.11pm, following a request for assistance from the crew of the vessel, who were on passage from Waterford to Monkstown.

With moderate wind and clear visibility, the Ballycotton RNLI was quick to launch and arrived on scene at 5.30pm. Once the crew had assessed the situation and spoken with the two people on board, a decision was made to tow the vessel back to Ballycotton. A secure tow line was established and the seven-metre boat was brought alongside to Ballycotton pier at 7.00pm.

Volunteer James Patton, along with fellow crew members Adam Hussey, Adrian Erangey, Síle Scanlon, Stephen Sloane, and Ronan Lynch, responded to the callout. For Patton, it was his first shout, and Coxswain Eolan Breathnach commended his efforts, saying, "Thankfully conditions were very good and the boat was located not far from the harbour, both people were wearing lifejackets and had called for help as soon as they encountered engine difficulties."

Breathnach also advised the public to take the correct water safety advice for the activity they are taking part in and to always make sure they have a means of raising the alarm if things go wrong.

A family of six was rescued by the Howth RNLI, a volunteer crew, after their powerboat suffered engine failure and ended up on rocks at Lambay Island, off the north Dublin coast on Friday 3 May. The Dublin Coast Guard received a 999 call from the family, and the lifeboat was launched within 10 minutes with seven crew members on board. The Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116, and Skerries RNLI were also tasked to the emergency. Conditions were good with a westerly wind and slight swell.

Upon arrival, the crew observed the family had abandoned their boat and were stranded on the rocks, unable to safely make it ashore to the island. The lifeboat crew launched their daughter boat, the XP boat, which allows the crew to get in close to the rocks to assist.

Rescue 116 lowered a winchman to assess the situation and observed that all six individuals were in good health and wearing lifejackets. In consultation with the crew on the XP boat, and given the conditions on scene, it was decided that the safest approach was to winch the family on board the helicopter.

The family was winched one-by-one on board the helicopter and taken to Rescue 116’s base at Dublin Airport. The volunteer lifeboat crew from Skerries RNLI, on board their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, attempted to recover the powerboat but given the conditions and the location of the boat on rocks, it was unable to safely recover the boat.

Fred Connolly, the Coxswain of Howth RNLI, who was in command of the lifeboat, praised the family for doing the right thing by calling for help as soon as they got into difficulty. He also thanked the charity's supporters for their generosity which enables them to respond to emergencies like this. The incident comes at the start of the May bank holiday weekend, which traditionally sees the start of the summer busy season and an expected increase in demand for lifesaving services.

Ahead of the May holiday weekend, Water Safety Ireland, the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI are jointly appealing to people to be safe and summer-ready when planning an activity on or near the water.

The organisations are urging people to ensure that boats and other watercraft, including kayaks and canoes, are checked and in good working order following the winter period. Engines should be serviced and all equipment, particularly lifejackets, should be in good condition.

If out on a boat, or other water vessel:

• Wear a lifejacket, carry a reliable means of communication – a VHF radio and ideally a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) with mobile phone backup in a watertight case
• Ensure that you tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back

If planning activities on the water:

• Always bring a means of effectively communicating distress
• Use readily available sources of information to check the environmental conditions (weather and tides) in advance of your trip
• Seek help immediately if you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, or think they are in trouble, by using Marine VHF channel 16 or Dialling 112 and asking for the Coast Guard

If you are swimming:

• Water temperatures are still cold at this time of the year, consider wearing a wetsuit to stay warm
• Acclimatise slowly
• Wear a bright swimming cap and consider a tow float to increase your visibility
• Never swim alone and always ensure that your activity is being monitored by a colleague

Kevin Whitney, Operations Manager at the Coast Guard reminded everyone to ‘Plan & Prepare’ before considering any water-based or coastal activity ahead of and during the summer months: ‘Do not use inflatable toys in open water or swim out after anything drifting as things can quickly go wrong. Be aware of potential dangers and well prepared before engaging in any water-based activities. The Be Summer-Ready website at www.gov.ie/summerready provides good water safety advice and we urge the public to read this before venturing out on the water.’

Roger Sweeney, Deputy CEO at Water Safety Ireland said: ‘An average of five people drown in Ireland every fortnight and cold water is often a factor. Sudden immersion can cause a shock to your body, a loss of breathing control, dizziness, and panic. Hypothermia and muscle cooling soon makes swimming difficult or impossible, particularly for children who have less body fat. Keep cold water swims short and enter the water slowly, staying within your depth. Shore anglers should always wear a lifejacket and walkers should carry a mobile phone and keep a close eye on incoming tides to avoid being stranded.’

Linda-Gene Byrne, RNLI Water Safety Lead said: ‘Many people will be taking vessels to the water for the first time this year so this is a good time to think about checking your equipment, especially your lifejacket so that it is fit for purpose.’

‘Others may be planning a trip to the beach and a swim in the sea. We would encourage swimmers to be mindful of rip currents which can be difficult to spot, but are sometimes identified by a channel of churning, choppy water on the sea's surface. Even the most experienced beachgoers can be caught out by rips so remember don’t try to swim against it or you’ll get exhausted. If you can stand, wade don’t swim. If you can, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore. Always raise your hand and shout for help.’

If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, or think they are in trouble, use Marine VHF channel 16 or Dial 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Arranmore RNLI’s volunteer crew were roused in the early hours of Sunday morning (28 April) by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist a sailor onboard a yacht that lost power 18 miles west of the Co Donegal island.

The initial request came at 2.41am but as the crew were about to board their all-weather lifeboat, they were asked by the coastguard to stand down as it emerged as the yachtsman had managed to raise his sails and was proceeding as planned.

The crew returned home but were called again five hours later to proceed to the same area, as the yacht was failing to make progress.

On reaching the yacht, the lifeboat crew assessed the situation and decided to establish a tow to bring the yacht to safe moorings at Arranmore.

This was the second call for the all-weather lifeboat in five days. On Tuesday evening (23 April) the volunteer crew assisted in a medevac from Arranmore to a waiting ambulance at Burtonport.

Arranmore RNLI coxswain Jimmy Early said: “We are always happy to give assistance where it is needed. The sailor was really grateful for all the help in bringing him to safety.

“We have a really dedicated crew here on Arranmore and they are always prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty. We are, at present, recruiting crew members for the lifeboat and invite anybody interested in joining to come to the station for a look and a chat.”

The crew onboard the lifeboat with Early were mechanic Reamon O’Donnell, Sean Gallagher, Jamie Neeson, Sharon O’Donnell, Finbar Gallagher and John Boyle.

Galway RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard on Saturday afternoon following a report of two people stranded by the tide on Hare Island, which is located on inner Galway Bay.

The crew’s pagers were activated at 4:05 p.m., and the boat was launched just ten minutes later. Brian Niland helmed the lifeboat, which had Olivia Byrne, Dave McGrath, and Sean McLoughlin on board.

Paul Carey was the Launch Authority and coordinated the rescue from the lifeboat station. He said: ‘Conditions were favourable this afternoon with the tide having turned and starting to flood. The lifeboat was on the scene at 4.20 pm and the two people were located and brought on board. The casualties were safe and well and were brought back to the lifeboat station at Galway Docks.

‘Heading to the coast or out on the water is a great way to have fun and stay active. But it is a lot easier to get into trouble than you might think. Conditions can change quickly and you can easily get caught out. If you are walking along the coast, our advice is to always check the tides, and if you get cut off by an incoming tide, stay above the high water line and call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard. It is better to call for help and not try to swim or walk back to shore.’

Clifden RNLI’s volunteer crew in western Connemara launched on Thursday evening (25 April) to rescue a sailor from the upturned hull of his sailing boat in Clifden Bay.

At 8.45pm the lifeboat crew were tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard following a call from a member of the public who had observed the sailor in difficulty from the shore.

The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Joyce King was quickly launched, helmed by Joe Acton with crew Alan Pryce and Shane Conneely. They were assisted by John Brendan Mannion on the shore.

The lifeboat arrived on scene, a short distance out in Clifden Bay, to find the casualty clinging to the hull of his upturned boat. The sailor, who was wearing a life vest, had been in the water for some time and was cold but in good spirits otherwise.

The crew transported the sailor back to shore to warm up and then set about righting the sail boat and towing it back to a safe mooring in the bay.

Speaking about the call-out, Clifden RNLI helm Joe Acton said: “With this current spell of good weather, we expect to see people enjoying water sports and boating activities around our coasts.

“We want everyone to enjoy the water and come home safely. Please always remember to wear a life jacket when out on the water, always carry a mobile phone or VHF radio to call for help in an emergency. Boats should have an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) which is registered and regularly maintained.

“The volunteer crew at our station are on call 24/7. If you get into difficulty, or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”