Lough Derg RNLI assists lone skipper on a 20ft cruiser adrift in rough weather
Lough Derg RNLI assists lone skipper on a 20ft cruiser adrift in rough weather
Lifeboats News Release
At 1.25pm today, Sunday 4 August, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist a lone skipper on a 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure in rough weather. The vessel was reported to be on the west shore of the lake behind the Corrakeen Islands.
At 1.37pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboatlaunched with helm Eleanor Hooker, crew Chris Parker and Joe O’Donoghue on board. The wind was southerly, Force 4/5. Visibility was good.
At 1.48pm the lifeboat had sight of the casualty vessel. It was lying side on to weather on the western shore of the lake behind the Corrakeens. The person on board was safe and wearing their lifejacket. The skipper explained to the RNLI volunteers that having come down the Shannon to the lake without incident, their engine failed and they were unable to get it going again.
Given the vessel’s location on the navigation route, the local weather conditions and forecast, and the possibility of initiating another emergency response should the vessel be left where it was, the helm made the decision to take the cruiser under an alongside tow to the nearest safe haven at Dromaan Harbour, a short distance along the shoreline from the casualty vessel’s location. The lifeboat informed Valentia Coast Guard of the plan. The casualty vessel was safely tied alongside in Dromaan at 2.30pm
The lifeboat departed the scene and, back at station, was washed down and refuelled at 3pm
Peter Kennedy, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI said ‘given the conditions on the lake today, the casualty made the correct decision to immediately call for help by dialling 999 and asking for the Coast Guard’.
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]
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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.
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.
