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Ballyglass RNLI rescues injured sailor on 11m yacht off the North Mayo coast

Lifeboats News Release

Ballyglass RNLI came to the aid of a lone sailor last night (Tuesday 3 September) after they experienced a knee injury.

Ballyglass RNLI's all-weather lifeboat

RNLI/Nigel Millard

Ballyglass RNLI's all-weather lifeboat

The all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist the sailor who was four miles north-west of Eagle Island off the north Mayo coast and approximately 14 nautical miles from the lifeboat station.

The volunteer crew received the alert from Malin Head Coast Guard just before 5pm and the lifeboat was underway shortly after under Coxswain James Mangan.

Weather conditions at the time were challenging with a small craft warning in place, a north-westerly wind force 5/6 and the sea choppy with swells.

When the lifeboat with five crew onboard arrived on scene, they assessed the situation and communicated with the sailor who was fit to sail into Broadhaven Bay single-handed but required help mooring.

The lifeboat proceeded to escort the sailor into calmer waters in Broadhaven Bay where it was safe for one of the volunteer crew to be transferred to the casualty vessel to bring her to the nearest safe moorings at Ballyglass pier.

There, the lifeboat crew were met by Ballyglass Coast Guard Unit and the ambulance service who took over the care of the casualty once ashore.

Speaking following the call out, Ballyglass RNLI Coxswain James Mangan said: ‘We were pleased with the safe return of everyone and we would like to wish the sailor well and commend and thank our colleagues from the ambulance service and Ballyglass Coast Guard Unit and our own shore crew.'

Crew on this call out included Coxswain James Mangan, mechanic Allen Murray, navigator Stephen Togher and crew members John Gaughan, Pat Coyne and Seán Reilly.

Ends  

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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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