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Lough Derg RNLI volunteers take 2 people to safety from their grounded vessel

Lifeboats News Release

Earlier today, Friday 19 June, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist 2 people on a 36ft motor cruiser aground south of the Goat Road.

view from the helmet camera worn by the RNLI volunteer on seat 2, where the casualty vessel can be seen in the distance over the right shoulder of the volunteer in the helm sea

RNLI/Eleanor Hooker

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Jean Spier 19 June
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At 3:33pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with volunteer helm Chris Parker and crew Owen Cavanagh and Deirdre Gleeson on board. The wind was westerly, Force 2. Visibility was good.
At 3:55pm the lifeboat arrived on scene. The casualty vessel was aground on the south side of the Goat Road; a raised rocky shoal for migrating birds.

Assessing the lake charts at the location of the casualty vessel, the navigator advised that there was sufficient depth port side of the vessel on which the lifeboat could approach.

With an RNLI volunteer taking soundings and using the navigation instruments onboard, the lifeboat was alongside at 4pm.

An RNLI volunteer transferred across to the casualty vessel and found both people on board to be safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.

Given that their vessel was aground, the casualties were told that they would be taken off their boat and to the safety of Dromineer Harbour, where transport to their car would be arranged. Before departing the scene, the RNLI volunteer deployed the anchor as an additional precaution. The lifeboat informed Valentia Coast Guard of the plan.


At 4:12pm the casualty departed the scene with the 2 casualties on board. The lifeboat arrived back at station at 4:27pm. The lifeboat was washed down and refuelled at 5pm.


Commenting on the callout, Mary Hurley, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI said: ‘the people on board were correct in calling for help as soon as they found themselves in difficulty. If you get into difficulty or see somebody else in trouble on the water, dial 999 or 112 or use VHF radio Channel 16 and ask for the Coast Guard.’


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Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.

RNLI Media Contacts

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 0877535207 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.

About the author

Eleanor Hooker
Lifeboat Press Officer, Lough Derg Lifeboat Station

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