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Lough Derg RNLI assists a person on an 18ft speed boat with engine failure

Lifeboats News Release

Earlier today, Friday 22 May, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist a person on an 18ft speed boat with engine failure at Parker's Point, southwest of Garrykennedy.

View of the starboard side of the lifeboat , 4 crew on board facing forward and heading out under darkening, thunderous skies

RNLI/Peter Hooker LMA

Archive photo of Lough Derg RNLI Jean Spier
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At 5:54pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with volunteers, helm James Corballis and crew Joe O’Donoghue, Chris Parker and Deirdre Gleeson on board. The wind was south-westerly, Force 3 to 4. Visibility was good.

At 6:03pm, the lifeboat arrived on scene. A passing cruiser had taken the casualty vessel under an alongside tow to prevent them being pushed on to the rocky shore as their anchor was dragging. The skipper of the casualty vessel was safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejacket.

The RNLI helm spoke to the skipper of the assisting vessel, who was happy to continue the tow to the safest close harbour at Garrykennedy.
The lifeboat informed Valentia Coast Guard of the plan to accompany both vessels to Garrykennedy, where the lifeboat would take over the tow through the narrow channel into the harbour.

The assisting vessel was thanked and continued its passage north. The casualty vessel was safely tied alongside at 6:38pm.

At 6:43pm the lifeboat departed the scene and was back at station at 6:54pm. The lifeboat was washed down, refuelled and ready for service by 7:05pm.

Commenting on the callout, Aoife Kennedy, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI said: ‘As the boating season has begun in earnest, we would remind boat users to ensure your vessel and engine are serviced. 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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