Fethard RNLI launch to assist lone sailor near Barrow Bridge
Fethard RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked to assist a lone sailor whose boat had lost power on Friday morning (15 May).
The lone sailor’s vessel had lost power and was adrift in the shipping channel north of the Barrow Bridge in the Waterford Estuary.
Fethard RNLI inshore lifeboat Naomh Dubhán was tasked to launch by the Irish Coast Guard at 11.29am. The volunteer crew made their way by road and launched the lifeboat at Ballyhack. Conditions were good and the D-class arrived on scene at 12.17pm.
Having assessed the situation, the crew decided to take the casualty undertow to the closest marina in New Ross, as it posed a significant risk to navigation in the channel.
Once the casualty was secured in the marina at 1.30pm the lifeboat returned to Ballyhack to recover. The crew returned to station and were ready for service again by 2.49pm.
Domini Codd, volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Fethard RNLI said:
‘The casualty did the right thing by calling for help as soon as possible.
‘We would advise that anybody heading out on the water always carries an appropriate means of calling for help and always wears a personal flotation device, such as a lifejacket.’
If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, or think they are in trouble, use Marine VHF channel 16 or Dial 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
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Notes to Editor
The attached photo shows Fethard RNLI D-class Naomh Dubhán underway at sea. Credit Liam Ryan
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Nadia Blanchfield, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Fethard RNLI, [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]
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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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