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Courtown RNLI responds to false alarm with good intent

Lifeboats News Release

Courtown RNLI responded to a false alarm with good intent today (Friday 31 January) following reports of person thought to be in difficulty.

Courtown RNLI's inshore lifeboat

RNLI/Courtown

Courtown RNLI's inshore lifeboat
The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 3.22pm by the Irish Coast Guard. The inshore lifeboat launched shortly after with helm Brian McEvoy and crew member Conor Berney and Hazel Woods onboard.

Weather conditions were favourable at the time with a slight south easterly wind and calm seas.

Once the lifeboat was on scene, the crew conducted a search of the area. There were no initial sightings of a missing person. The lifeboat searched the coastline north and south of the reported sighting. The lifeboat crew were in radio contact with the local Coast Guard who were also at the scene, and after 30 minutes Rosslare Coast Guard advised Courtown RNLI to stand down.

Speaking following the call out, Jim Murphy, Courtown RNLI Lifeboat Boathouse Manager said: 'This was a false alarm with good intent and we would to commend the person who raised the alarm as that is always the right thing to do. We would much rather launch and find all is well than not launch at all. We would like to comment our volunteers for their quick response in leaving their places of work. Should you have any concerns for your own safety or that of someone else, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.'

Ends

RNLI Media Contacts
For more information contact Nicky Deacon, Courtown RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected]

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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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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