Courtmacsherry RNLI respond in three call outs over weekend
Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather Trent class lifeboat Frederick Story Cockburn was called out this afternoon Sunday (26 April) at 3.40pm, as people reported a surfer in difficulties off Garrylucas Beach near the Old Head of Kinsale.
Once the crew pagers were activated by Valentia Coast Guard, the Courtmacsherry lifeboat under Coxswain Ken Cashman and a crew of six were underway from their moorings in the harbour within minutes and proceeded at full speed to the area of the casualty.
Conditions at sea today were windy with a good swell in open seas. The lifeboat reached the coastline off Garrylucas within 20 minutes of being called out and proceeded to carry out a detailed search of the area while the Old Head and Seven Heads Coast Guard unit searched from the shoreline.
The area was comprehensively searched over the next 40 minutes and once there was no finding of anybody in difficulties, the search operation was stood down. This was the third call out over the weekend for the lifeboat crew following a call out to a swimmer in Broadstrand on Friday evening and another call out on Saturday morning, both under Coxswain Mark Gannon. When the lifeboat crew were on their weekly crew training exercise, they were called to go to the aid of four people in difficulties off Garrettstown strand. Thankfully the swimmers were rescued by nearby surfers as the lifeboat reached the area.
Philip White, Courtmacsherry RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said: 'Great credit is due to all our volunteer crew members who rushed to answer the call out whenever help was required at sea this weekend . Philip thanked the people on shore that called the rescue services at 112 or 999 as every minute is so important to people in difficulty no matter what the outcome of a search is.
The Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat crew involved in today’s call out were Coxswain Ken Cashman, Mechanic Chris Guy and crewmembers Mark John Gannon, Evin O Sullivan, Dave Philips, Austin McKenna and Conor Tyndall.
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