Skerries RNLI respond to reports of swimmer in difficulty
Skerries RNLI launched this afternoon (04 March) shortly after 12pm after Dublin Coast Guard contacted the station's launching authorities to make them aware of a swimmer in difficulty at Red Island headland in Skerries.
The volunteer crew launched the Atlantic 85 and proceeded to the area that the swimmer was reported to be in. Arriving on scene, the lifeboat discovered that swimmer had made their way ashore on the rock and the winchman/paramedic from the Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 had already reached them.
Two volunteer crew were put ashore to see if they could offer any assistance to the Coast Guard. The swimmer was uninjured, however the low tide at the time meant that walking across the sharp rocks was not possible in bare foot. The decision was taken to winch them aboard the helicopter before landing on Red Island where the local Coast Guard volunteers had set up and secured a landing area. The casualty was then transferred to an ambulance to be assessed.
The crew returned to the lifeboat and they stood by while the winch operation was carried out before standing down and returning to the station.
Conditions at the time were calm with a force one to two easterly wind.
Speaking about the call out, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said: ‘The swimmer made the right call to head for shore and look for assistance as soon as possible. This was a good outcome today and it’s always great to see how well the different rescue services work together.’
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Gerry Canning, Skerries RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 087 988 4965 or email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Ireland Media Officer on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Ireland Media Manager on 087 1254 124 or [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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