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Galway RNLI rescue lone sailor adrift 2 miles offshore
The volunteer crew at Galway Lifeboat Station were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard at 10am this morning following a distress call from a lone sailor who had lost engine power on Galway Bay, more than 2 miles south of Spiddal.
The sailor who was alone on a 30 foot boat had been motoring west from Galway when a problem arose with the engine and the boat lost power.
Two of the Galway RNLI crew were at the lifeboat station at the time the call came in from the Coast Guard and the lifeboat was launched immediately and was underway once the full complement of crew had assembled. The crew of Paddy Hennelly, Mark Purcell, James Rattigan and helm David Badger made their way without delay to the casualty, arriving shortly after 10.30am.
Peter Navan, Launch Authority for Galway RNLI said: ‘This was a really good launch and rescue operation. Everything went as it should starting with the casualty immediately raising the alarm when the boat lost power, which is absolutely the right thing to do. One of the ferries to the Aran Islands was in the vicinity of the casualty boat when the call for help went out and the ferry stayed alongside the casualty boat until the lifeboat had launched.
‘When the lifeboat arrived at the scene, one of the crew went on board the casualty boat to check on the condition of the sailor and thankfully all was well. The crew then carried out an inspection of the boat and in the absence of a more suitable vessel and given the risks related to the boat’s condition and location in the main shipping channel, it was determined that towing was the best course of action for all involved in this instance.
‘Conditions were favourable at sea with good visibility and just a moderate breeze. The lifeboat and crew were back at the lifeboat station at around 1pm having ensured that the casualty boat was secured and the sailor was safely ashore.
‘Incidents can happen at sea at any time. Today was an example of how important it is to call for help when you get into trouble on the water, or if you see someone in trouble. For anyone heading out sailing or motorboating, it is essential that you always carry a means of calling for help, and that everyone onboard knows how to use it. Whether that is using a VHF radio or using a mobile phone and dialling 999 or 112 and asking for the Coast Guard.’
Ends
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For further information, please contact:
Aoife Morrissy, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Ireland, [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]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [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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