Courtmacsherry RNLI requested to assist a surfer in difficulty off Inchydoney
As bad weather unfolded around the coast this evening (Saturday 21 September), the Courtmacsherry all-weather Trent Class RNLI lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn was called out at 5.15pm to go to the immediate aid of a surfer that had got into difficulties off Inchydoney Island in Clonakilty Bay an
Under Coxswain Mark Gannon and a crew of six, the lifeboat crew was underway very quickly and immediately made its way to the area of the casualty. The distress alarm was raised by people on the shoreline who were worried as the sea state and wind had deteriorated badly.
On an evening when no other boat was at sea in the general area, getting away fast with a volunteer crew was of the utmost importance. As the lifeboat sped across Clonakilty Bay in fresh conditions, the call came that the surfer had managed to finally get ashore and was ok.
Commenting on this evenings call out, Diarmuid O'Mahony, Courtmacsherry RNLI Deputy Launching Authority praised the people on shore for quickly alerting the rescue services: 'Vital minutes today could have been so important in sea conditions that were very poor. I also want to commend all the volunteer crew who responded so quickly in coming to the lifeboat station in the knowledge that they were going to face some mountainous seas and difficult conditions off the coast'.
The crew on board this evening's call out were Coxswain Mark Gannon, Mechanic Tadgh McCarthy and crew members Denis Murphy, Chris Guy, Donal Young, Ken Cashman and Dave Philips.
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