Kilmore Quay RNLI rescues overdue casualty on Great Saltee

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class relief lifeboat, RNLB Irene Muriel Rees, by the Irish Coast Guard at 11.30am.

The lifeboat, under the command of Coxswain Aidan Bates and with four crew members onboard, arrived on scene at 11.55am. It was raining at the time with a south-easterly force 4 wind and with sea conditions described as slight.

The casualty who had been on a small inflatable dinghy when he got into difficulty at sea, was quickly located on the rocks at the north west end of the island in an area known as the ring. Due to the shallow waters surrounding the rocks, a decision was made to launch the lifeboat’s smaller inflatable Y-boat to access the area. Two crew members were transferred aboard to go ashore and assess the situation. The casualty was found cold but well and returned with the crew aboard the Y-boat to the lifeboat unaided. The lifeboat was soon under way back to Kilmore Quay harbour, arriving at 1pm where the casualty was transferred into the care of the National Ambulance Service.

Speaking following the call out, John Grace, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘We would like to wish the casualty well following their ordeal and commend the person who raised the alarm when they knew this person was overdue - that is always the right thing to do and we would encourage anyone with a concern for someone to never hesitate in making that call. Inflatables are not designed for the sea as they can easily get swept out. We would encourage anyone planning a trip or activity at sea to go prepared with the right craft and equipment and to check the weather and tide conditions in advance. Always wear a life jacket or suitable flotation device for your activity and always carry a reliable means of communication such as a VHF radio, or a mobile phone in a waterproof case. If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

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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