Howth RNLI launch to reports of upturned Kayak spotted by member of public
Howth RNLI launched the all weather lifeboat Saturday (17 March) to reports of upturned Kayak spotted in rough seas off the nose of Howth.
A member of the public, while out walking on Howth Head, spotted what appeared to be a yellow upturned kayak just off the nose of Howth in very rough seas. The member of the public raised the alarm by contacting the Coast Guard and sent them a picture taken with their mobile phone of the kayak in the water.
The Coast Guard immediately tasked Howth RNLI to launch and investigate. The volunteer lifeboat crew pagers sounded at 5.45pm and the lifeboat was launched and went to sea within 12 minutes of receiving the call.
The Kayak was quickly located and brought aboard the lifeboat. It looked like it had not been used for quite some time and had been adapted to support a floating structure. The lifeboat completed a search of the area and returned to base.
The wind was Force 6-7 easterly and the sea state was very rough at the time
Speaking following the call out, Ian Sheridan, Howth RNLI station mechanic said: ‘We have to compliment the member of the public for their quick action. While in this case it was thankfully a false alarm the accuracy of their report to the coastguard allowed us to find the reported vessel and conduct a search’
Ends
Notes to editors
- Howth RNLI lifeboat station has been operating since 1862. (Howth Lifeboat station was established prior to 1825 and was taken over by the Institution in 1862 from the Dublin Ballast Board) To learn more about the lifeboat station go to http://rnli.org/findmynearest/station/Pages/Howth-Lifeboat-Station.aspx
- A photocall will be held on Saturday morning at the lifeboat station. Please contact the lifeboat station press officer to register your attendance
- Coxswain Fred Connolly is available for interview
- A video of Howth Lifeboat on joint RNLI exercise with Clogherhead and Skerries lifeboats http://rnli.org/Pages/Video-Details.aspx?VideoItemID=CHYzSwBX
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Noel Davidson, Howth RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 086 2599531 or email: noeldavidson@mac.com, Niamh Stephenson RNLI Media Relations Manager Tel: 087 1254 124 / 01 8900 460 email Niamh_Stephenson@rnli.org.uk or Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Tel: 087 648 3547 / 01 8900 460 email: Nuala_McAloon@rnli.org.uk
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 over 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 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or or by email.