Aran Islands RNLI come to the aid of 2 people after yacht gets into difficulty

The volunteer crew were requested to launch on Friday afternoon at 4.33pm following a report from the Irish Coast Guard that a vessel was taking on water between Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin.

Weather conditions at the time were fair with a South Westerly force 2 wind, smooth seas and good visibility.

The lifeboat launched from Cill Rónain harbour at 4.40pm and quickly proceeded to the reported location of the vessel.

Once on scene 3 members of crew were transferred onto the yacht along with a salvage pump to pump water out of the yacht. Once enough water was pumped out of the yacht, the lifeboat escorted the yacht to Ros a’ Mhíl.

As they arrived into Ros a’ Mhíl harbour, the crew transferred the yacht into the care of Costelloe Bay Coast Guard.

Speaking following the call out, Coxswain Michael Nicholas, said: ‘The people on board the yacht did the right thing by calling the Coast Guard once they got into trouble. Time is of the essence in a situation where a boat is taking on water.

Thanks to the quick actions of our crew, we were able to reach the vessel promptly and ensure the safety of those on board. We would like to thank our colleagues in Costelloe Bay Coast Guard for their cooperation.’

‘As the summer continues, we encourage all water users to always wear a suitable lifejacket or personal flotation device for their activity, carry a means of calling for help, and check the weather conditions before setting out. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 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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