Three call outs for Sligo Bay RNLI in four days

The Sheila and Dennis Tongue with four volunteer crew onboard launched at 4.17pm on Sunday to assess the situation where a boat off Aughris had got into difficulty when it fouled its propellors after getting tangled in ropes. The lifeboat arrived on scene and following an assessment by the crew the decision was made that the safest course of action was to tow the boat back to the pontoon in Rosses Point given that the vessel could not make any safe onward progress.

As the lifeboat crew were making their way back, they received a second request from the Irish Coast Guard to go to a boat with two people onboard that had ran out of fuel. Once the crew had brought the first boat back safely and ensured that it was tied up and all onboard were fine, they make their way back out to Aughris with a relief crew. Again due to the vessel not being able to make safe onward progress, the decision was made to bring it back to Aughris pier.

Today, the volunteer crew received a request to launch by the Irish Coast Guard to a 5m rib with one onboard that was experiencing engine difficulty in the channel. Following several attempts to restart the engine, the boat user made the decision to tie up to a navigation pillar and called for help.

The crew launched the lifeboat at 12.56pm and proceeded up the channel towards Sligo port. Upon arrival at the scene, the crew assessed the situation and decided that a tow back to the pontoon in Rosses Point was the safest solution.

Speaking after the call out, Michael Waters, Sligo Bay RNLI Helm said: ‘The person onboard, who was wearing a lifejacket, made the right decision to call the Coast Guard and request assistance as the tide was on the way out and they had made several unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine. As we know, time can be of the essence in many situations so we would encourage people to not delay in raising the alarm if they are in difficulty or see someone else in trouble.'

Ends

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Aisling Gillen, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Sligo Bay RNLI at [email protected]

Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Ireland, 087 648 3547, [email protected]

Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Ireland, 087 125 4124, [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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