Lough Derg RNLI assist a person on a 28ft cruiser with engine failure

At 5.58pm this evening, Friday June 4, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist a person on a 28ft cruiser suffering engine failure, reported to be near Mountshannon Harbour.

At 6.09pm the lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, crew Joe O’Donoghue, Tom Hayes and Ciara Moylan on board. The winds were southerly, Force 3/4. Visibility was good.

With a description from the Valentia Coast Guard, the lifeboat located the vessel in the navigation channel off Ilaun Hobert and was alongside at 6.19pm. The skipper was safe and unharmed and wearing his lifejacket. He had managed to get his engine going and was under way, but at a slow speed, as the engine cut each time he increased the revs.

The lifeboat informed Valentia Coast Guard that they were going to take the casualty vessel under tow to Dromaan Harbour. By Dromaan Harbour the lifeboat volunteers changed the tow from an astern tow to an alongside tow in order to navigate the narrow channel into the Harbour.

At 7.24pm the casualty vessel was safely tied alongside and the lifeboat departed the scene. The lifeboat was back at station at 7.40pm.

Liam Maloney, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat users to ‘ensure your boat engine is serviced, and that you use fresh fuel when returning to the water after overwintering your boat’.

Ends

Notes to editors

• Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station has been operating since 2004. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/lough-derg-lifeboat-station
• A photo of Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat can be viewed at: https://www.facebook.com/RNLILoughDerg/

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI volunteer helm and Lifeboat Press Officer on 0877535207 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.