
Helvick Head RNLI comes to the aid of four people after 14ft boat breaks down
Helvick Head RNLI came to the aid of four people on Monday evening (6 September) after their 14ft open pleasure boat broke down at Cunnigar Point.
The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 7.19pm following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to assess the situation where the boat with two men and two women onboard, had suffered engine failure at Cunnigar Point, a 5km sand spit that juts across from An Rinn to Dungarvan Bay.
The lifeboat helmed by Alan Kelly and with crew members Paudie Walsh, Richard Haynes and Joe Foley onboard, launched immediately and made its way to the scene.
Weather conditions at the time were bright and sunny with a flat calm sea and an easterly Force 1 wind.
On arrival, the lifeboat crew first ensured that all onboard were safe and well before assessing the situation and deciding to tow the vessel to the nearest safe port at Ballynagaul.
Speaking following the call out, Sean Walsh, Helvick Head RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said: ‘We would like to commend the group who had taken the necessary safety precautions for their trip. They were all wearing their lifejackets and were at anchor when the lifeboat arrived.’
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