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Skerries RNLI launched twice in two days to paddle boarders

Lifeboats News Release

Skerries RNLI volunteers responded to incidents involving inflatable paddle boards last Wednesday (7 August) and Friday (9 August), bringing three adults and four children to safety.

Skerries RNLI approaching the casualties

RNLI/Gerry Canning

Skerries RNLI approaching the casualties

On Wednesday, shortly after 3pm, Dublin Coast Guard received a 999 call from a man who reported that they were being blown out to sea off Portrane beach. A Pan Pan emergency was issued and the lifeboat in Skerries was tasked.

The volunteers in Skerries launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat “Louis Simson” and navigated around the headland at Red Island before proceeding towards the location given for the casualty. As they were nearing the location, they received an update that one of the volunteer Helms at station had been close to the area in his commercial vessel, “Ros Áine”, and had taken the two adults and two children aboard, along with their paddle boards.

A volunteer crew was transferred from the lifeboat to the “Ros Áine” to assess the casualties and administer first aid. The crew member stayed aboard and the lifeboat escorted as the casualties were landed at Rogerstown pier, where they were handed into the care of an ambulance crew and Skerries Coast Guard unit.

Conditions at the time were south easterly force four to five with a choppy sea and good visibility.

The volunteers were tasked again on Friday, shortly before 3pm, after lifeguards on the south strand in Skerries raised the alarm that a man and two children on a paddle board were struggling to make it back to the beach against the wind and the tide.

The lifeboat was launched and proceeded directly to the area indicated by the lifeguards. As the lifeboat rounded red island, the volunteers spotted the casualties almost immediately. The two children were aboard the stand up paddle board and the man was swimming alongside.

All three were taken on board and a first aid assessment was carried out. No medical assistance was required and they were dropped safely back to the beach.

Conditions at the time were a north westerly wind force four to five with a slight sea and good visibility.

Speaking after the call outs, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said “Unfortunately, we do get a number of call outs to stand up paddle boards every year. Thankfully everyone was wearing lifejackets and had a means of contacting the shore. We would also just remind people to check the sea area forecast before taking to the water as only a slight increase in the wind can make it more challenging to get safely back to shore.”

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Gerry Canning, Skerries RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 087 988 4965 or email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 087 1254 124 or [email protected] or Tom McGuire, Regional Communications Manager on 0874764436 or email [email protected]


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.

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