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12 rescued in separate incidents on lake

Photo: Lough Derg RNLI
Photo: Lough Derg RNLI

Twelve people including seven children were rescued following back-to-back incidents on Lough Derg on Saturday afternoon.

The Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was returning to base from one incident when they were requested to respond to a second.

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The volunteer crew was first alerted at 2.26pm when watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard marine rescue sub centre on Valentia Island in Co Kerry requested the team to respond to a call.

A group of seven people, including three adults and four children, were on board a 40ft cruiser that ran aground at the Goat’s Road on the eastern shore of Lough Derg.

The lifeboat located the vessel inside the Goat Road and found that all seven people on board were unharmed and all wearing their lifejackets.

An RNLI crew member was transferred to the casualty vessel where he reassured everyone on board. He also checked for any damage to the hull or any ingress of water.

Satisfied that the boat was not holed, he set up a tow line and the lifeboat took the vessel off the rocks and into safe water.

The drives and propellers were checked to ensure they had suffered no damage, and, after pointing out a safe route on their navigations charts, the cruiser made way to Dromineer Harbour under its own power.

Soon afterwards, while the lifeboat was returning to its base at Dromineer, the crew was redirected to assist a family of five whose 35ft cruiser had run aground on a rocky shoal by Ryan’s Point.

The lifeboat raced to the scene and quickly located the casualty vessel. A lifeboat crewman was transferred to the casualty vessel and distributed survivor lifejackets to those who had none. There were two adults and three children on board.

Once again, the vessel was checked by the lifeboat crew member. The lifeboat then took the vessel off the rocks and out into safe water. The drives and propellers were also checked to ensure they were in working order. The cruiser continued on its onward journey.

Lough Derg RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Pat Garland said: “Boat users should ensure they are carrying enough lifejackets for everyone on board and also ensure they wear them. They should also study their charts and stay within the navigation marks on the lake.”

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