Youghal RNLI was tasked today (Sunday 11 July) by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to reports of a kayaker having capsized and in difficulty in the water 300 metres from the shore at Knockadoon.
The Volunteer crew, under the Helm of Jason Ansboro launched the lifeboat at 3.26 pm in clear and calm sea conditions.
Arriving on the scene the crew discovered two kayakers. One of them had capsized the kayak and had been in the water for some time, they had just managed to climb back onto the kayak as the lifeboat arrived.
The two people and the kayaks were brought safely on board the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat. Once on board the crew, who are trained in casualty care assessed both people and found the person who had been in the water to be suffering from severe hypothermia. The other person did not require medical assistance.
The lifeboat quickly returned to the RNLI station where the Youghal Coast Guard unit were waiting to take over the care. The casualty was then transferred to Cork University Hospital.
Speaking after the call out Lou Stepney, Youghal RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘We wish the gentleman from today’s call out a speedy and full recovery. In this case, the kayakers were able to use a mobile phone they had with them to alert the Coast guard on 112/999. They were also both wearing buoyancy aid’s which offered a level of protection when he found himself in the water, both these factors led to a successful outcome this afternoon’
