Lough Ree RNLI assist 17 people over the Easter holidays
The volunteer crew at Lough Ree RNLI came to the assistance of 17 people who encountered difficulties on the lake from Good Friday (April 15) until the weekend just passed.
Four of the call-outs were to cruisers which had run aground on shoals and rocks in lower Lough Ree.
The RNLI lifeboat rescued a cruiser with five people on board which had run aground at the Hexagon Shoal near Hare Island on Good Friday. On Easter Monday just after midday the Irish Coast Guard requested the charity’s volunteer crew to assist a 40ft cruiser with five people on board which had run aground in the same area.
Easter Tuesday evening just before 9pm saw the RNLI lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ and her crew back north of Hare Island have to rescue two people on board a stranded 30ft cruiser.
Following inspection all three vessels were towed to safety at Coosan Point.
On Saturday last (April 23) at 11.35am under helm Liam Sheringham the Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew were called to assist a cruiser with four people on board which had run aground north of Yew Point. When the lifeboat arrived at Hodson Bay one crew member was put on board the stricken vessel to conduct an examination. After inspection the vessel was taken under tow to Coosan Point.
As the Lough Ree RNLI shore crew were on their way to assist the recovered vessel moor at Coosan jetty they were called to assist a member of the public who had taken a fall in the Coosan Point amenity area. The casualty recovered following first aid treatment by the volunteer shore crew at the scene and follow-up care at the lifeboat station.
In recent days the Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat crew has been engaged in recovery and towing training, the charity’s volunteer Operations Manager said: "While Lough Ree RNLI is always trained, prepared and ready to respond to any emergency at any time I would encourage those using cruisers on the lake to adhere to all navigation guidelines and be aware of hazards that may lie just beneath the surface of the water."
Ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend all who use the lake are encouraged to be mindful of taking all the relevant safety precautions.