At 11.30 am today, Sunday 25 April, whilst out on exercise, Lough Derg RNLI volunteers in County Tipperary noticed the passengers of a 20ft motorboat waving to them to signal their distress.
The motorboat was south of the Scilly Islands and lying side on to the weather. The wind was easterly, F3, with good visibility.
The lifeboat, with helm Eleanor Hooker, Joe O’Donoghue, Chris Parker and Ania Skrzypczynska on board, immediately made way to the vessel. The two people on board the casualty vessel asked for assistance as their boat had suffered engine failure.
The lifeboat informed the Valentia Coast Guard of the situation. The crew set up an astern tow to take the vessel with her passengers back to Garrykennedy Harbour, the closest available safe harbour, and from where they had started their journey.
At 12.13 pm the casualty vessel was safely tied alongside at Garrykennedy Harbour. At 12.18 pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat, Jean Spier, departed the scene to return to station.