Arklow RNLI rescues lone swimmer

The report had come in via a concerned member of the public who had been out walking at North Quay. The member of the public had no phone and headed to the end of the North pier where some fishermen called 999 and alerted the Gardaí and the Coast Guard, who in turn tasked Arklow RNLI to launch.

Following the launch the lifeboat and her crew were underway and enroute to the casualty within minutes. Some fishermen and others on the quayside had maintained eye contact with the swimmer and were able to give the lifeboat volunteers assistance with location. In rapidly darkening but calm conditions the lifeboat crew located the casualty approximately a quarter mile south of Arklow harbour and using the Rescue A Frame were able to recover the now tiring swimmer.

Following the recovery, the swimmer was brought ashore at Arklow Lifeboat station and was handed over to the care of the waiting ambulance crew and Gardaí.

The swimmer was found to be in good spirts and was transferred home a short time later.

Following the incident, Mark Corcoran Community Safety Officer at Arklow RNLI said: ‘We would like to thank the member of the public and the fishermen who were out on North Quay last night, their early call for help allowed our volunteers to be able to make good time in getting to and recovering this casualty. We would like to encourage people to always remember to carry a means of calling for help and if they do spot anyone in the water who might be in difficulty to always call 999 or 112 and ask for Coast Guard.’

Further water safety information can be found at https://www.respectthewater.com.

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RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Mark Corcoran, Arklow RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0868260439, email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Regional Media Officer on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Regional Media Manager on 087 1254 rel="noopener noreferrer" 124 or 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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