Fenit RNLI rescue man whose boat had capsized near Derrymore Island
Following a call for assistance from Valentia Coast Guard at 4.47pm on Saturday last (21 April) the volunteer crew of Fenit RNLI launched the inshore lifeboat with a full crew onboard having responded within minutes to their pager alert call out system.
Reports had been received of a person in the sea near Derrymore Island.
Volunteer RNLI crew arrived at the scene of the incident 10 minutes after leaving from Fenit Pier.
Upon arriving at the scene the crew went to the area where the man had managed to swim ashore after his boat overturned. The man had been in the water for some 30 minutes.
Weather conditions would have been calm when the man set out to sea but force 4-5 south westerly winds had developed when the incident occurred.
The man was checked medically and was found to be in a good condition.
The man was brought by the RNLI to the overturned boat where it was righted. The boat was towed to Fenit Pier with the owner of the boat onboard the lifeboat. Gerard O’Donnell, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Fenit RNLI was at the station to meet the rescued man.
The crew proceeded to help draw the water out of the sunken boat by using a salvage pump. The boat was finally in a position to be moved to a more protected area close by.
Speaking following the call out Fenit RNLI Helm Lee Sugrue said: ‘Our crew responded with a very quick launch time as we were in the vicinity of the lifeboat station at the time our pagers went off. Weather conditions had deteriorated over the course of late afternoon and we are very pleased that there were no casualties today. ‘We would advise all seafarers to respect the water and always wear a lifejacket. If at any time you see someone in trouble in the water or need assistance at sea, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’
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For more information please contact Jackie Murphy, Fenit RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Tel: 087 832 2605 or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Regional Media Manager Tel: 087 1254 124 / 01 8900 460 email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon RNLI Regional Media Officer Tel: 087 6483547 email: [email protected]
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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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