Arklow RNLI helps three onboard broken down boat ahead of search for kayaker

The volunteer crew were first requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard at 1pm.

The Ger T was launched to reports of a fishing vessel which had lost propulsion and was adrift one mile north east of Arklow Harbour.

In south westerly winds of Force 4-5 and with moderate worsening sea conditions, the casualty vessel was located and once on scene, Arklow RNLI volunteers secured a rescue towline and proceeded to tow the fishing vessel with three aboard back into Arklow where all hands came ashore safely.

The volunteers for this call out included Coxswain Ned Dillon, Brendan Dillon, Eddie McElheron, Dave Molloy ,Craig O’Reilly, Jimmy Myler and Sinead Myler.

The second call out came later that evening at 6.20pm when the pagers were activated following an alarm being raised by a member of the public.

Reports had come in that a person was missing on a kayak somewhere north of Arklow. The crew launched the lifeboat immediately and commenced a search. As they proceeded north along the coast, further reports came in that a kayak had been sighted on or near the beach at Ennereillly Strand, north of Arklow.

The lifeboat continued the search north as it headed for the reported position at Ennereilly.

In the meantime some of Arklow RNLI’s volunteers had commenced a shoreline search to see if the person had managed to get ashore separate from the kayak. A short time later another volunteer located the owner of the kayak who had made his way ashore quite safely and was en route back to Ennereilly Strand to pick up his kayak. The search was then stood down and the lifeboat returned to station.

Following the call outs, Mark Corcoran, Arklow RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer and Community Safety Officer said: ‘Thankfully, we were able to bring three people safely back to shore and given the worsening conditions and with the casualty vessel adrift near the rocks this could easily have had a much worse ending. Our second launch in more challenging conditions followed a report of a missing kayaker, thankfully he had made it back to shore safely and was en-route back to collect his beached kayak when he was located on shore. Thanks to the members of the public who made the report and all of our volunteers for their time in challenging conditions and a special thanks and congratulations to Sinead Myler on completing her first call out today.’

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]

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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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