Busy week for Arklow RNLI with three call outs in quick succession

The first call out came on Sunday afternoon when the volunteer crew were paged following reports that a kayak with two on board capsized close to the shoreline south of Arklow.

The casualties had managed to scramble onto nearby rocks.

The lifeboat launched immediately and made its way to the scene, where the crew rescued both individuals and brought them back to Arklow Lifeboat Station via road.

Casualty care was administered by the crew, after both kayakers were assessed and found to have minor injuries.

On the Tuesday, the volunteer crew were tasked again, this time to an EPIRB alert indicating a vessel potentially in difficulty.

Arklow RNLI joined the local Coast Guard unit and the rescue helicopter in conducting an extensive search of the reported area.

After a thorough and coordinated operation, the directional finder indicated the signal was coming from Arklow harbour, most likely from a moored vessel.

All units were stood down once the search area was fully cleared.

The third call out was received by Arklow RNLI at 4.40pm on Thursday. The lifeboat was launched shortly after to a yacht south of Arklow harbour which had lost engine power.

A crew member was transferred onto the vessel and attached a tow line.

After a full assessment of the situation by the Coxswain Ned Dillon, the decision was made to tow the yacht into the nearest safest port of Arklow habour, with the one person on board the casualty vessel being delivered home unharmed.

Ned Dillon, Arklow RNLI Coxswain, who was on board for all three shouts said: ‘I'd like to thank our brilliant crew for a busy week of call outs for the station. We worked well together to make a good outcome for all of them. It’s obviously a big year for us with the 200th anniversary of the station here in Arklow.

‘We’ll be celebrating it this August bank holiday with our station open day from 12.30 to 5.30 at Arklow Lifeboat Station. Everyone is welcome to come down for our Nautical Cosplay Competition. Come dressed up as your favourite nautical character - pirate, mermaid, or lifeboat crew member. There will be prizes for the best dressed.’

'Arklow RNLI is ready to respond 24/7 to anyone who is in distress in or around the water. Please don't delay in looking for help, you could save a life by calling 999/112 at the first sign of trouble. Please be safe and enjoy our beautiful Connemara coast.'

ENDS

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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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