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Lough Ree RNLI volunteers have a busy May

Lifeboats News Release

Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was on the water twice over the weekend. The charity has been called to assist 23 in six different incidents during the month of May.

Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat 'Tara Scougall' (File picture)

RNLI/Tom McGuire

Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat 'Tara Scougall'

At 4.30pm on Sunday (28 May) the Coast Guard tasked Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew to assist 3 people in a fishing boat which was drifting off the western shore. The charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ with a volunteer crew of Stuart McMicken (helm), Kieran Scullion and Denis Begley was launched in sunny, calm conditions. On reaching the scene, off Carna Military Range, at 5.15pm, the crew found a 4.5m lake boat drifting without power. It appeared that the baot had struck rocks and suffered lower engine damage. The three casualties were unharmed and the RNLI lifeboat towed the stricken vessel to the safety of the jetty at Hodson Bay.

Earlier in the weekend, on Saturday (27 May) just after 7.30pm Lough Ree RNLI responded to a call for assistance from a boat which had run aground with 6 people on board. Launched at 7.45pm the RNLI lifeboat under volunteer helm Kieran Sloyan and with a volunteer crew of Billy Henshaw Jnr. alongside newly graduated crew Paul Kelly and Ray Cregg reached the stricken vessel in ten minutes. On arrival at the scene, east of Carberry Island, the crew found six people on board a 40ft. cruiser which had run aground. Following an inspection the boat was towed off the rocks by the RNLI’s ‘Tara Scougall’ and continued under its own power.

This brought to 12 the number of call-outs Lough Ree RNLI has responded to in 2023.

Earlier in May RNLI volunteer crew were tasked by the Coast Guard to four separate incidents of cruisers ending up on rocks in lower Lough Ree close to Kidd Island, Quaker Island, Kings Island and Hare Island.

In the most serious of these, on the afternoon of Monday (22 May) Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew assisted five people on board a cruiser which suffered damage having run aground near Hare Island. The damaged boat was towed to Portaneena for inspection and assessment.

Ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Operations Manager Kevin Ganly has asked all those in charge of boats on the lake to: ‘be fully familiar with their navigation charts and pay particular attention to signage and guidance provided. With receding water levels previously unseen obstacles may now cause an obstruction and damage to boats on the water.’

The public are reminded that in case of danger on the water it is important to call for emergency services at the earliest opportunity. The RNLI volunteer crew and the charity’s lifeboat are on call 24 hours a day to respond to people in danger and save lives on the water.

Ends

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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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.