Donate now

Lough Derg RNLI assist a person on 23ft speed boat broken down by The Goat Road

Lifeboats News Release

At 6.10pm on Thursday May 10, Lough Derg RNLI launched following a request by Valentia Coast Guard to assist a person on a 23ft speed boat broken down by The Goat Road on the eastern shore of Lough Derg.

Winds were south-easterly, Force 3/4. Visibility was very good.

The lifeboat, with helm Dom Sharkey, Eleanor Hooker and Ger Egan onboard, arrived on scene at 6.28pm. The Shannon Princess passenger vessel remained on scene until the lifeboat arrived.

The skipper of the speed boat had dropped anchor, but it was dragging and bringing the vessel close to rocks on the Clare shore. An RNLI volunteer was transferred across to the casualty vessel, where the person on board were found to be safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejacket.

The RNLI crew member made a thorough check of the cruiser and found that the issue was most likely an electrical failure.

The lifeboat volunteer got the casualty vessel ready for tow, he weighed anchor and the lifeboat took the motor boat under tow to Portumna Harbour, where, at 6.50pm, it was safely tied alongside.

Dom Sharkey, volunteer helm on the Lough Derg lifeboat, said: The skipper did the correct thing to drop anchor and to call for help immediately. We would like to thank the skipper of the Shannon Princess for standing by in safe water until we arrived on scene'.

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 Regional Media Officer Ireland on 0876483547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Regional Media Manager Ireland on 0871254124 or 018900460 or email [email protected]

RNLI/Lough Derg

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok 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 by email.

Categories