19 People Rescued From Lough Ree In The Last Week

Tuesday, 19 July 2022 10:19

They included one person injured while jumping into the midlands lake.

19 people have been rescued from Lough Ree in the last week.

The local RNLI volunteer crew have been busy responding to six incidents during the spell of good weather.

They assisted three stranded cruisers, a speedboat caught on the rocks and a person injured while jumping into the lake at Coosan Point.

Just after 8 o'clock yesterday morning, Lough Ree RNLI was requested by the Coast Guard to go to the assistance of four people on board a stranded cruiser near Clonminch Island on the lake.

In the most recent call-out, the lifeboat crew located the 32ft cruiser which had run aground on rocks south of Clonminch Island. After confirmation that all four people on board were well and following an inspection of the sticken vessel, it was towed to safe water and continued under its own power.

The rocks around the Hexagon Shoal claimed another casualty when, on Sunday, the ‘Tara Scougall’ with her volunteer crew was called to the assist five people on board a speedboat on the rocks. Launched at 2.42pm, under helm Kieran Sloyan, the lifeboat reached the scene in minutes. On arrival the volunteer crew found that three people had been taken on board a passing vessel while the remaining two were rescued by the lifeboat crew. The speedboat, which was holed and taking water was towed to Coosan Point where it was beached.

While this call-out was continuing, Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat station was alerted to an incident at Coosan Point where a member of the public had been injured while jumping into the lake. The casualty was assisted by Shane McCormack, a volunteer helm and casualty care specialist.

In a double call-out last Thursday, 14th July, the volunteer crew responded to a call for assistance at midday to five people on board a stranded cruiser on the Hexagon Shoal. The cruiser was towed to safe water and headed north towards Lanesboro. While returning from this call the volunteer crew were diverted to another incident near Inchclearaun where a 27ft cruiser with one person on board was stranded on rocks. Following inspection the boat was towed off the rocks and continued north.

While last Monday, 11th July, the crew was called to assist a 40ft cruiser with five people on board which was stranded on rocks at Kids Island. After safety checks the boat was towed to safe water.

After a busy weekend on and off the water, Lough Ree RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Kevin Ganly has requested that, “the public using amenities around Coosan Point stay well away from the slipway and launch area for the charity’s lifeboat. At busy times congestion in the area can hamper the launch of the lifeboat responding to an emergency call.”