Lough Derg RNLI assists six people on a 38ft cruiser aground

At 7.40pm the lifeboat launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Dean O’Sullivan and Kevin Dooley on board. Winds were westerly, Force 3. Visibility was good.

The lifeboat located the cruiser inside the Goat Rd. and the navigation buoy E. The lifeboat took soundings and came in alongside the cruiser. All six passengers were found to be safe and unharmed and were requested to don their lifejackets.

An RNLI volunteer transferred across to the casualty vessel and checked that it was not holed. He set up a bridle and tow and told the passengers what to expect as the boat was taken off the rocky shelf.

The lifeboat made made numerous attempts to take the cruiser off the rocks, but it was stuck fast. The owner of the cruiser had arranged for two marine engineers to attend the cruiser on a motorboat. The lifeboat crew made contact with the engineers and advised them that they were taking all passengers and the RNLI volunteer off the cruiser to lighten its load, and agreed that the two experienced engineers would take the cruiser off the rocks with their vessel. The lifeboat informed Valentia Coast Guard of the plan, and that it would stand by until the cruiser was afloat.

At 9.26pm, the cruiser was afloat, but as night was falling, the lifeboat took the passengers across the lake to the closest harbour at Rossmore, whilst one of the engineers helmed the cruiser.

At 9.38pm the lifeboat departed the scene.

At 11.00pm the lifeboat was ready again for service.

Liam Maloney, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Station, advises all boat users on the lake, to ‘bring up to date charts of the lake and plan your passage before leaving harbour, and do not to stray off the navigation route’.

Ends

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0877535207, email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Ireland on 0876483547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland on 0871254124 or 018900460 or email [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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