Baltimore RNLI launch on back to back calls

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 8.15pm, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard in order to assist a 23 foot motor boat, with two people on board, which was taking on water in Church Strand within Baltimore Harbour.

The Baltimore inshore lifeboat crew arrived at the casualty vessel at 8.17pm and crewman John Kearney was put aboard the vessel to assess the situation. The leak was plugged using a wooden dowel plug provided by the lifeboat. The casualty vessel then made its own way to the pier in Baltimore under escort from the inshore lifeboat. John Kearney assisted the occupants of the casualty vessel in securing it to the pier and once the occupants were happy he returned to the inshore lifeboat. The inshore lifeboat then made its way back to the boathouse, arriving at 8.45pm.

There were three volunteer crew onboard the inshore lifeboat, Helm Micheal Cottrell and crew members John Kearney and James Kitt. Assisting at the lifeboat house were Rianne Smith and Tom Kelly.

While the volunteer inshore lifeboat crew were still in the boathouse a second request came from the Irish Coast Guard to launch the all-weather lifeboat on a medevac to Cape Clear Island off the coast of West Cork.

The Baltimore all-weather lifeboat crew launched at 9.15pm and proceeded to Cape Clear, arriving at the pier in North Harbour at 9.40pm. They transferred the casualty, a girl who had been injured in an accident on the island, onboard the lifeboat and the lifeboat departed Cape Clear at 9.43pm. The lifeboat returned to the station in Baltimore arriving at 10.15pm and the casualty was handed over to the care of HSE Ambulance crew.

There were six volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Micheal Cottrell and crew members Jerry Smith, Colin Whooley, Don O’Donovan and Jim Baker.

Conditions at sea during both calls were flat calm with a south westerly force 2 wind, no sea swell and good visibility.

Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘It was a busy evening for Baltimore RNLI and our volunteer crews with our inshore and all-weather lifeboats on back to back calls. If you get into difficulty at sea or on the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

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RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0872906607 or email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

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 146,000 lives.

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