Lough Ree RNLI Volunteers respond to 4 call outs in 3 days.
Lough Ree RNLI Inshore Lifeboat crew responded to 4 callouts in 3 days coming to the aid of fifteen people.
Between 8am on Sunday, 1 July and 2.20pm on Tuesday, 3 July Lough Ree RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Crew came to the aid of fifteen people, 4 children and 11 adults in 4 separate call outs.
The first call out, on Sunday 1 July was for 2 people whose boat had drifted onto one of the Yellow Islands to the south of Lough Ree. The couple had got into difficulty when trying to leave where they were anchored for the night. Conditions at the time were overcast with a breezy force 3-4 northerly wind. The Inshore Lifeboat Crew were able to remove the boat from the Island, however after checking the boat when they were in deeper water it was apparent that the boat wasn’t able to continue under its own power. The Inshore Lifeboat Crew brought the 2 people onboard and their boat to Athlone Marina.
On Monday, 2nd July Lough Ree RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Crew came to the assistance of 8 people in 2 separate incidents when they had got into difficulty near the Hexagon Shoal on the eastern shore of Lough Ree near Killinure Point. Conditions on the lake on Monday were bright sunshine and a slight north easterly breeze.
The first call out was at 1pm to 4 people, 2 adults and 2 children, on-board a boat that had got stuck on the Hexagon Shoal. The Inshore Lifeboat Crew were able to remove the boat from the shoal and the 4 people on board were able to continue on their way to Lecarrow to enjoy the rest of their holiday. The second call out was for 4 people, 2 adults and 2 children,on board a speed boat that had lost power. The Inshore Lifeboat Crew brought the 4 people and boat to Quigleys Marina beside Coosan Point.
On Tuesday 3 July, the Volunteer Crew were alerted by a member of the public to a boat in difficulty near Hudson Bay on the Western shore of Lough Ree. When they arrived on scene the boat was at anchor and the 5 people on board had arranged assistance from a friend and while grateful to the Inshore Lifeboat Crew for coming out, did not require their help.
Speaking today, Lough Ree RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, Sarah Bradbury said, ‘It’s great to see so many people, both locals and visitors, enjoying Lough Ree and all that it has to offer. As we continue to enjoy the dry weather, we’d like to let people know that water levels may be lower than usual and to keep to the main navigation channels where the water will be deeper’.
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RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Sarah Bradbury Lough Ree RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Tel: 087 1210658 email: [email protected] or Nuala McAloon RNLI Regional Media Officer Tel: 087 6483547 email: [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Regional Media Manager Tel: 087 1254 124 / 01 8900 460 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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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