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Double engine failure for lone boatman

Photo: © Pat Flynn 2015
Photo: © Pat Flynn 2015

A lone boatman set off a distress flare and called the Irish Coast Guard for assistance after he was left drifting at sea when both his engines failed.

The man was alone on board the the 18ft RIB (rigid inflatable boat) when it suffered double engine failure at around midday yesterday (Friday) off the Clare coast near Liscannor.

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After one engine on the craft failed, the boatman started his auxiliary motor which also cut out leaving him adrift about 500m from the shore.

The man deployed a maritime distress flare and called 999/112 to alert the Irish Coast Guard to his difficulty.

The Irish Coast Guard marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry maintained telephone contact with the man while the nearest unit of the service was alerted and requested to respond to the scene.

Volunteers from Doolin Coast Guard travelled to Liscannor by road where they launched their rescue boat.

The boatman informed the coordination centre that he was able to start one of the engines and that he was going to try and make it to shore.

Contact with the boat was lost for a short time however soon after the rescue boat had been launched, the boatman confirmed that he had managed to make it ashore.

The boat suffered minor damage however it’s occupant was unharmed.

Once it was confirmed that boatman was safely ashore and did not require further assistance, the rescue operation was stood down.

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