Four people were rescued last night after their yacht ran aground leaving them stranded for over an hour.
The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was alerted after a number of local boat owners attempted to reach the grounded 24-foot vessel that had become stuck in shallow waters at Sandy Bottom in Dromineer Bay.
Their efforts were unsuccessful however as the area where the boat had run aground was too shallow and they risked become grounded them. With no success reaching the boat the alarm was raised at around 8.03pm.
Video: Lough Derg RNLI
Ten minutes later the lifeboat located the cruiser in about two feet of water.
An RNLI volunteer waded into the stricken boat and spoke with the occupants who had little english. Those on board were found to have been unharmed and told their rescuers they had been stuck on the rocks for over an hour.
Once the rescue team established that the vessel was not taking on water they set up a bridle and the vessel was taken under tow to Dromineer Harbour.
Lough Derg RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Brendan O’Brien said: “All boat users to note that water levels on the lake are particularly low at the moment and to bear this in mind when passage planning.
The RNLI always recommends that boat users ask locals for advice if uncertain.
Last Thursday five people were rescued after their 49-foot cruise boat suffered engine failure and was left drifting on Lough Derg.
A total of thirteen people were rescued in four separate incidents in the previous six days after their boats ran aground, lost power or were caught up in poor weather.