At 6pm, Wednesday March 9, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched on exercise with helm Eleanor Hooker, Steve Smyth and Chris Parker on board.
At 7.35pm Valentia Coast Guard requested the lifeboat to search for a vessel that a member of the public had seen from the Luska shore driving in an erratic manner towards the Corrakeen Islands, and whom they thought might be in difficulty.
It was nightfall with a clear sky and a waxing crescent moon, but a freezing mist rising off the water reduced night visibility. The wind was north-easterly F2.
Using on board electronic navigation, RADAR and searchlights, the lifeboat began a thorough search of the water and shore whilst circumnavigating the Corrakeen Islands but didn’t locate a boat. To gather further information, Valentia Coast Guard gave the lifeboat direct contact with the person who had made the call. The only description they had of the vessel was that it had a single light.
The lifeboat volunteers informed Valentia Coast Guard that they would navigate to Luska Bay and through the narrow channel of safe water north and east of Ilaunmor to ensure no boat was stranded there. After a thorough search of the area, no vessel was located, and at 8.42pm the lifeboat was stood down by Valentia Coast Guard.
The RNLI volunteers continued their exercise, and returned to station at 21.30pm
Catherine Gleeson, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat users ‘if you are alone on the water, tell someone ashore your plans and what time you expect to be back and remember to carry a means of calling for help in case you do end up in trouble’.
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]
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media
resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the
RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
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 146,000 lives.
