Galway RNLI called to broken down boat off County Clare
Galway RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard this afternoon to assist five people on board a 7 metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB) which had broken down off the North Clare coast.
Shortly after 12 midday (Sunday 17 August), the pagers went off and the crew of Aaron Connolly, Mark Purcell, Martin Oliver with helm David Badger made their way to the lifeboat station to launch the lifeboat. Once under way, the crew travelled south across Galway Bay to the reported location of the broken down RIB which was around halfway between Blackhead and Ballyvaughan, Co Clare.
Sea conditions were good on the bay and the lifeboat made good time reaching the broken down RIB, which had in the meantime been taken under tow by another boat in the area. The lifeboat crew assessed the situation as under control and stood by to escort the two boats into Ballyvaughan Bay where they were able to get back to shore safely.
Speaking after the shout, helm David Badger said: ‘This was a good outcome today. Our advice is always to call for help if you get into trouble on the water or if you see someone in trouble by dialling 112 or 999 and asking for the Coast Guard. It is really important that when you go to sea to always carry a means of making contact and raising the alarm, such as a VHF radio or mobile phone. And of course to wear properly maintained lifejackets which will keep you afloat and visible if you end up in the water.
‘The people on board the stricken boat did everything right today. It didn’t matter that the RIB had already set up a tow with another boat by the time we arrived. We were happy to be there to make sure everyone was well, unharmed and that both boats were safe to do the tow. We accompanied the boats to the pier at Ballyvaughan and once we knew that they were going to be able to get ashore safely, we set off back to the lifeboat station. We’d rather be there to help and make sure people are safe than not get the call or get the call too late.
‘Lots of people are taking advantage of this latest spell of settled summer weather and our advice to everyone planning activities on or by the water is:
· Check the tide times and read local hazard signage to understand local risks.
· When swimming, choose a lifeguarded beach and always swim between the red and yellow flags.
· If you get into difficulty in the water, remember: #FloatToLive. This simple skill can save your life.
· In an emergency, call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.’
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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