
Five rescued by Wicklow RNLI from capsized yacht
Both Wicklow RNLI's inshore and all-weather lifeboats launched this afternoon (Sunday 25 June) after the Irish Coast Guard received a distress call on Marine VHF Channel 16, reporting an 8m racing yacht had capsized during a squall in Wicklow bay and one person was trapped under a sail.
The inshore lifeboat launched at 4.10pm and was on scene two minutes later. Weather conditions in the area were poor at the time as a thunder and lightning storm with strong gusting wind and rain passed overhead.
Explaining the call out, Wicklow RNLI Helm Alan Goucher said: 'As we approached the partially submerged vessel, five people were visible in the water. We recovered four but the fifth person was tangled in the rigging, so lifeboat volunteer Peter Byrne entered the water and managed to free the person from the obstruction.’
With the five sailors safely onboard the Inshore lifeboat, they were landed ashore at Wicklow lifeboat station and handed into the care of a National Ambulance Service paramedic for a medical assessment. They required no further treatment.
The all-weather lifeboat under the command of Coxswain Nick Keogh stood by the sinking yacht and placed a marker buoy on the section still visible above water. They were stood down by the Coast Guard shortly after 5pm and returned to station.
Commenting on the call out, Tommy Dover, Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Press officer, said: 'This was a fast response by our volunteers today, who assembled and launched within minutes following the pager alert. It was also the first call out for our trainee’s Derek Byrne and Robbie Quinn as they kitted up on their first call out on the all-weather lifeboat.’
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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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