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Waterford RNLI lifesavers prepare to answer the call this Christmas

Lifeboats News Release

As the RNLI comes to the end of its milestone 200th year, the charity is launching its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, with a focus on the volunteer crew members who are preparing to spend Christmas on call.

Adam and Luka Sweeney pictured with their Mum Karen Harris

RNLI/Nigel Millard

Adam and Luka pictured with their Mum Karen Harris

On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period* every year. Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews including those at Dunmore East, Tramore and Helvick Head, are ready to battle the elements to save lives at sea. These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected.

Christmas is a time for family and friends, but the RNLI’s volunteer crews are ready to leave their own celebrations this festive season and answer the call for help. Just one of the thousands of crew members preparing for a Christmas on call is Dunmore East RNLI’s resident adventurer Adam Sweeney. Adam returned to Ireland last Tuesday on his 21st birthday having summited Ama Dablam in the Himalayas.

Part of an all-Irish team made up of seven mountaineers, Adam was the only member of the team to make it successfully to the summit of the Himalaya's most challenging peaks, which stands at 6,812 metres. Adam is on a journey with an ambition to become the youngest Irish person to climb Mount Everest, a mammoth challenge he plans to take on in 2026.

For now though, he is back in Dunmore East and planning for another Christmas on call.

Adam joined the lifeboat crew three and a half years ago at the age of 17. He was inspired by station team who responded to the Lily B, a 100m general cargo vessel carrying 4,000 tonnes of coal and a crew of nine, which lost all power just two nautical miles from Hook Head. The vessel’s crew faced either running aground on rocks or capsizing in severe force nine gusts and wave heights of between 8-10m.

‘I remember watching that from the station at the time and seeing the big waves and that kicked things off for me and that’s when I decided I would give it a go to help people,’ Adam explains. ‘There is also a strong family connection; my mum Karen Harris and uncle John O’Sullivan are Launch Authorities at the station while my brother Luka and cousin Hugh O’Sullivan are also on the crew.’

Adam says it is rewarding to be involved: ‘I think the reward is the sense of community, it is so nice to see the community get together and the rescues are huge. It is a great feeling to be able to help bring someone back to their family, there is a great sense of achievement in that for everyone at the station.’

Adam says his RNLI skills and training did help prepare him for reaching the Ama Dablam summit: ‘I think mentally it has helped me. The late nights, spending six hours at sea and the rogue waves, it does all give you that mental strength and helped me get to the top.’

As he looks ahead to a Christmas on call, Adam along with his fellow crew members, are ready: ‘There’s no feeling quite like bringing someone home safe to their families – especially at Christmas. Even at this time of year, people still get in trouble in the water, and like all RNLI crews, we at Dunmore East, Tramore and Helvick Head, are prepared to leave our own celebrations to help others.

‘But as volunteer lifeboat crew we couldn’t launch without kind donations from the public which fund the kit, training and equipment we need to save others and get home safely to our own families.’

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal

Ends

Adam Sweeney pictured on Ama Dablam

RNLI/Dunmore East

Adam Sweeney having summited Ama Dablam

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.