Pair rescued after boat ran aground

The Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat rescued two people on Sunday evening after their boat ran aground near Dromineer Bay.

The 30ft cruiser ran onto rocks on the west side of the Corakeen Islands only a short distance from the lifeboat station.

The lifeboat launched at 6pm with helm Eleanor Hooker, Ger Egan and Keith Brennan on board. Winds were south westerly, Force 5, visibility was good.

The lifeboat located the cruiser within five minutes and using local knowledge managed to navigate through safe water to reach the casualty vessel.

A local fisherman, who had raised the alarm by calling the Irish Coast Guard, was alongside the cruiser and reassuring those on board, neither of whom spoke English.

The water was shallow enough for a crew member to wade across to the boat. RNLI crew Ger Egan communicated that they should turn their engines fully off before he could approach the stern. 

After a thorough inspection that showed that the boat was not taking on water, the cruiser was taken off the rocks and towed out into safe water.

There the engine and props were confirmed in good working order. With an RNLI crew member still on board, the cruiser made way to Dromineer Harbour, where it was tied up alongside safely 6.50pm

Deputy Launching authority Peter Kennedy said: “Boat users to study their charts and plan their passage before setting out from port, and they be familiar with the navigation buoys on the lake.’