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Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew respond to call outs on three successive

Lifeboats News Release

Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was tasked to assist 6 people on board two cruisers which ran aground on the lake in the past week.

'Tara Scougall' Lough Ree RNLI (File Pics)

RNLI/Tom McGuire

Lough Ree RNLI 'Tara Scougall'

On Saturday morning last (16 September) Lough Ree RNLI crew went to the assistance of two people on board a 40ft cruiser stranded on rocks near Nun’s Island.

Launched just after 9am under helm Kieran Sloyan, the charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ and its volunteer crew responded to a call for assistance. The two people were taken from the stranded boat and transferred to the Lakeside Marina on the Westmeath shore.

The boat had been the focus of a call out the previous evening (Friday 15 September) when Lough Ree RNLI had been tasked by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the aid of the stricken boat with two people on board near Nun’s Island.

The Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew under helm Stuart McMicken reached the scene, near Marker Three, at 7.40 pm. On inspection the crew found the 40ft cruiser hard aground on rocks near Nun’s Island. The volunteer crew spent more than 90 minutes in a vain attempt to remove the craft from where it came to rest. The two people on board, who were in good health and had sufficient provisions and fully charged communications equipment decided to remain on board for the night.

With no improvement in the situation overnight the two people advised Lough Ree RNLI on Saturday morning (16 September) that they wished to be taken off the cruiser. The transfer was successfully complete by 10am.

Earlier last week, at lunchtime on Thursday (14 September) Lough Ree RNLI was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a cruiser with four people on board which had run aground on the Hexagon Shoal in the south of the lake.

Launched under helm Liam Sheringham, the charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ with a volunteer crew reached the stricken boat at 1.40pm. Following an initial inspection, the crew found all four people on board wearing life jackets and uninjured. The boat was towed from the rocks to safe water and continued north under its own power.

Kevin Ganly, volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Ree RNLI said: ‘Lake users need to be extra vigilant because of falling water levels on the lake this month.

More than 20 of the charity’s volunteers responded to call-outs last week and I want to thank them for their commitment and dedication to keeping people safe on the water.’

Ends

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Tom McGuire, Lough Ree RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0872470245 or email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea and on inland waters. 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 142,200 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.

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