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Lough Derg RNLI assists 2 people on a vessel grounded during Storm Floris

Lifeboats News Release

On Monday morning, 4 August, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist 2 people whose vessel ran aground in severe weather during Storm Floris.

Archive Photograph Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Jean Spier with 4 crew on board, view from starboard side as lifeboat heads out on a Shout

RNLI/Eleanor Hooker

Archive Photograph Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Jean Spier
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At 11:25am Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Steve Smyth, crew Joe O’Donoghue, Doireann Kennedy and Chris Parker on board. The wind was west-northwest, Force 5 gusting F7. Visibility was fair with frequent heavy and severe squalls.

At 11:42am, the lifeboat located the casualty vessel, inside Navigation Buoy G at Kylanoe Point, on the eastern shore of Lough Derg. The casualty was heavily grounded on rocks, and with the severe westerly winds, was being pushed higher onto the rocky shore.

After a detailed assessment, the RNLI helm determined that due to the treacherous location and rough weather conditions, the lifeboat would be unable to get sufficiently close to the casualty vessel to evacuate the 2 people on board safely.

At 12:04pm, following a discussion with Valentia Coast Guard, it was agreed that the Killaloe Coast Guard D-class lifeboat, would launch from Terryglass Harbour, north of the scene, to assist. The D-class lifeboat is designed to operate in shallow water and near rocky shores.


The Killaloe Coast Guard D-class lifeboat took the 2 casualties from their stricken vessel onto their lifeboat and out to safe water, where they were then transferred to the RNLI lifeboat. The RNLI lifeboat carried both casualties to safety to Dromineer Harbour.

The lifeboat returned to station at 2:37pm.

Jeremy Freeman, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI said ‘this rescue, conducted in severe weather conditions, had a positive outcome due to the excellent cooperation between RNLI volunteers and our colleagues at Killaloe Coast Guard. Remember, always check the lake weather forecast before embarking on your journey, and always carry a reliable means of communication with you’.


Ends


Notes to editors

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI volunteer helm and 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]


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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media
resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the
RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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.

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, X, 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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