Busy weekend for Fenit RNLI with three call outs and an Open Day event

On Saturday evening the volunteer lifeboat crew were paged, at 10:46pm, following a Coast Guard report that a 28ft pleasure boat had got into difficulty and had lost engine power at small mucklagh, North west of Little Samphire Lighthouse, Tralee Bay.

The All- weather lifeboat launched immediately and made its way to the scene, where they found the vessel disabled and unable to return to a port.

After a full assessment of the situation by the Coxswain, Terry Sheehy, the decision was made to tow the yacht into the nearest safest port of Fenit harbour, with the two people on board the casualty vessel being brought to safety.

On Sunday during the Fenit RNLI Open day, the volunteer crew were tasked again by the Irish Coast Guard, at 3:30pm, to reports of two individuals on jet skis that had got into difficulty near Barrow harbour.

The all-weather lifeboat was launched within minutes with Coxswain Finbarr O’Connell, as the volunteer crew were on-board giving tours to the community for the annual open day. The public all assisted quickly and moved out of the way, as the claxon was sounded and the Fenit RNLI crew assembled.

As the all-weather lifeboat reached the scene, the two individuals had safely arrived on shore and the Irish Coast Guard stood down the lifeboat.

The lifeboat crew arrived back to Fenit harbour at 4:15pm, where the lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service. They then assisted with the remaining of the open day celebrations.

Not long home from the open day clean-up of the station, the pagers sounded at 9:12pm and the all-weather lifeboat was tasked by the Coast Guard. The volunteer crew proceeded to Tralee Bay where a plane overhead had raised the alarm after being diverted to an Irish airport. As they arrived safely, Fenit RNLI was stood down and returned home.

Ends

RNLI Media Contacts

For information please contact Mary O’Brien Browne, Fenit RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 086 304 8650 or at [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead Tel: 087 1254 124 email: [email protected]  or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager Tel: 087 648 3547 email: [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

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