Arran RNLI crew rescue two from capsized dinghy
Arran RNLI’s volunteer crew had to rush to the rescue of the crew of a small dinghy which had capsized near Pillar Rock lighthouse on Holy Isle.
At 12.35pm on Saturday the 15th of September Arran RNLI’s volunteer inshore lifeboat crew was called to the aid of a dinghy which had capsized leaving its crew in the water to the south of Holy Isle.
This marked an extremely busy day for the Arran RNLI crew as they had already been out from 0930 fundraising at the local Calmac terminal; following this the crew then had duties to fulfil at the annual Lamlash Splash where they were providing safety advice. While at the Lamlash Splash the crew overheard radio communications from the Fisheries Support Vessel MINNA who had spotted the overturned dinghy. The Arran RNLI volunteer crew were soon tasked by UK Coastguard and made their way on scene fully utilizing the speed of the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat. Once on scene the Arran RNLI volunteer crew worked with the crew from the FSV MINNA who were also on scene in their RHIB. After assessing the casualties it was decided that they would be brought back to Lamlash and an awaiting ambulance team, after this the Arran RNLI crew had to return to the scene to right and recover the upturned dinghy before towing it into Lamlash bay.
This callout was also noteworthy as it was the first callout for Arran RNLI crewmember Rita Nemcsényi who said “Today showed us that even weather conditions deemed milder can leave sailors in a very vulnerable position. Sheer luck can’t be relied on when out at sea, so it’s very important to keep a means of calling for help close at hand.”
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.
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