Bundoran RNLI Tasked to Rescue Two Casualties Adrift on a Stand-Up Paddle Board

At 16:29 today, Bundoran RNLI was tasked with rescuing two female paddleboarders drifting out to sea at Bunlin Bar, just past the Carrickfad rocks in Donegal Bay. The lifeboat launched in calm weather with a maximum swell of 1 meter and a wind force of 2.

The father of one of the casualties made the call to the Coast Guard as he observed the two girls being blown further out to sea.

The lifeboat, helmed by Rory O'Connor and backed up by Bundoran crewmembers Richard Gillespie and James Cassidy, arrived on the scene within five minutes of the initial call.

Upon arrival, the crew observed that both casualties were wearing buoyancy aids and appeared to be in good health. One of the girls had her mobile phone with her, allowing them to maintain communication while adrift. The lifeboat safely took them aboard and brought them back to Creevy Pier, where they were reunited with their father.

Speaking after the incident, Rory O'Connor, helm on the call, said: "Something like this can easily happen to anyone going out on the water. What was important here today was that both casualties were wearing their buoyancy aids and had a means of communication with them in case of getting into difficulty. It’s only three days since we had World Drowning Prevention Day, and these are some of the key things we highlight to people when entering the water, as you never know when you will get into difficulty."

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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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