Wicklow RNLI assist fishing vessel off Wicklow Coast during multi agency search

Fifteen minutes after launching Wicklow lifeboat was re-tasked by the Coast Guard to assist a fishing vessel with machinery failure south of Greystones. The lifeboat under the command of Coxswain Nick Keogh located the stricken fishing vessel off Kilcoole at 11:20am. Conditions at the scene were sea state moderate, with north westerly wind force four.

A towline was quickly established, and the ten-metre fishing boat was taken in tow back to Wicklow harbour, where the four fishermen were landed safely ashore at lunchtime.

After refueling and a crew change, Wicklow lifeboat returned to sea to resume a search for the missing sailor off the Wicklow Coast. The operation which involved RNLI lifeboats from Ireland and Wales, Coast Guard helicopters and fixed wing aircraft from the Irish Air Corps and UK Coastguard, carried out a co-ordinated search covering a large area of the Irish sea.

The multi-agency operation ended late on Tuesday afternoon and Wicklow lifeboat returned to Station.

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 142,700 lives.

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