Skerries RNLI respond to reports of swimmer in difficulty
Shortly after 4pm yesterday (Monday 18 August), Skerries RNLI volunteers were tasked by Dublin Coast Guard to investigate reports that a swimmer appeared to be struggling to make it ashore at the North Beach in Rush.
The volunteers in Skerries, launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat “Louis Simson” and navigated through the islands off Skerries before making their way to the area indicated by the caller.
Once on scene, following discussions with the coast guard it was quickly established that fishing gear in the area had been mistaken for a swimmer. The lifeboat was stood down and returned to the station where volunteers recovered it and made it ready for the next call out.
Conditions at the time were force two to three south easterly winds with a smooth sea and good visibility.
The lifeboat was also launched by the volunteers in Skerries on Saturday (16 August) afternoon, following several 999 calls to Dublin Coast Guard reporting that two people on a paddle board were struggling to return to shore off the rocks at Kelly’s Bay in Skerries.
The volunteers on board the lifeboat had a visual on the casualty from the moment the lifeboat left the carriage and proceeded directly towards them. Once alongside the paddle boarders confirmed that they did not need assistance but acknowledged that the conditions were changing and they were returning to the beach.
The lifeboat stood by until they made their way safely back to shore before it returned to the station.
Speaking about the call outs, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said “Thankfully nobody needed the help of our volunteers in either of these cases, however the calls to the Coast Guard were made in good faith and the callers genuinely believed that someone was in danger on the water. They did exactly what we would always encourage people to do and dialled 999 and asked for the coast guard.”
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 Treasa Ni Bhraonain, RNLI Communications Placement on 0874764436 or [email protected].
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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