Wicklow RNLI assist lone sailor and rescue man from river

The first callout came on Saturday (17 September) afternoon, as the all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker  launched at 2.55pm to assist a small yacht south of Wicklow harbour.  The vessel with one person on board had developed mechanical problems near the horseshoe buoy. With light winds, he was unable make his way back to Wicklow harbour.

The English yacht Amica, which was passing made contact and attempted to tow the vessel back to Wicklow.  However, with the tide against him and strong currents, they were unable to make much headway around Wicklow Head. Therefore, they contacted the Coast Guard and the lifeboat was requested to launch.
The lifeboat under the command of Coxswain Nick Keogh located the vessel off Wicklow Head and a towline was quickly established.  The yacht and the lone sailor were brought safely alongside the east pier shortly after 3.45pm. 

The second callout came on Sunday (18 September) morning at 6-45am, after the Coast Guard received a report of a person in the water at Wicklow harbour. The multi-agency rescue operation involved the Coast Guard , Wicklow RNLI , Wicklow Gardai and Wicklow Ambulance Service.

The inshore lifeboat crew arrived on scene at the South quay a short time later. Lifeboat volunteer Ian Thompson entered the water to rescue the casualty, who was disorientated and injured. Ian was able to assess and reassure the casualty, before bringing him to a nearby ladder and with the assistance of an Garda Síochána, the person was lifted to safety and transferred to a waiting ambulance for medical treatment.

Ends

Notes to Editors
Please find attached a photo of Wicklow RNLI Inshore lifeboat crew Carol Flahive Ian Thompson and Peter McCann after the callout at Wicklow harbour. Credit Wicklow RNLI.

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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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