Arklow RNLI rescue four people in separate callouts over the weekend

The first launch on Saturday at 1.25pm was to a yacht which had gotten into difficulty and was without power. The vessel was about one mile east of Arklow harbour with three people onboard. The vessel and its three crew were towed safely back to Arklow.

The second launch came early on Sunday morning at approximately 2.30am. Arklow lifeboat and her volunteer crew were once again requested to launch to a report of a person in the water in the harbour at Arklow. Thanks to witnesses on scene who saw the person enter the water, the local Gardai and Coast Guard and Arklow RNLI were immediately alerted.

Volunteers lifeboat crew launched the Arklow Lifeboat, and proceeded to the location near the river entrance, where the members of the public and local Gardai had located the person in the water and had managed to engage with the casualty and throw a lifebelt, in efforts to keep the casualty afloat until the lifeboat arrived on scene minutes later.

Once on scene, the lifeboat crew got the casualty onboard the lifeboat and administered casualty care while quickly returning to the lifeboat station. The casualty was then removed to hospital by ambulance.

Following the callout, Mark Corcoran Community Safety Officer at Arklow RNLI said:

'We would like to extend our thanks to the members of the public who alerted the Coast Guard and the local Gardai to this incident. Without this early call for help and assistance during the rescue, this callout could have ended very differently. Arklow RNLI would like to remind people to Respect the Water, always wear a lifejacket and to carry a means of calling for help when going out on or near the water.'

Further Water Safety Information can be found at www.respectthewater.com

Ends

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 Press Officer on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager on 087 1254 124 or 01 8900 460 email [email protected]

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.