Over the bank holiday weekend, Dun Laoghaire RNLI came to the aid of two people who got into difficulty on a kayak.
Dun Laoghaire RNLI rescue two kayakers in difficulty off Dalkey Island
The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged at 8.21am on Friday following an initial report from the Irish Coast Guard that two men were in difficulty on a kayak somewhere between Dalkey Island and Coliemore Harbour.
The casualties used a mobile phone to raise the alarm when the kayak they were on began to drift out to sea.
The all-weather lifeboat under Coxswain Mark McGibney and with four crew members onboard launched immediately and made its way to the scene. Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard shore unit also attended.
Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a calm sea, light wind and good visibility.
On arrival south of Dalkey Island, the lifeboat crew observed that a fishing trawler that had arrived on scene first had taken the kayak in tow. The two kayakers who were safe and well were then transferred onto the lifeboat and brought back to Dun Laoghaire where no further medical attention was required.
Speaking following the call out, Stephen Wynne, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘The casualties did the right thing this morning and called for help once they knew they were in difficulty and that the vessel was drifting out to sea. We would like to wish them well and thank the fishing crew that was first on scene for their assistance this morning.
‘Dun Laoghaire RNLI remains on call and is fully operational during the Coronavirus pandemic. While there is no crew training or exercises taking place, our volunteers are here if people need us.’
The RNLI has issued advice with the Irish Coast Guard, to ask people to avoid using the water for exercise while restrictions are in place. This is to minimise the risk to search and rescue volunteer crews, helicopter crew and other frontline emergency services, through being unintentionally exposed to the coronavirus.
The charity meanwhile, has today launched its annual Mayday fundraising appeal. While crews around Ireland remain on call, the pandemic means that fundraising cannot take place as normal. The RNLI is instead asking people to consider fundraising at home to help save lives at sea. To find out more or to donate, log on to rnli.org/Mayday
