At 5.14am last Saturday morning, April 28, Lough Ree RNLI were alerted by the Irish Coast Guard, after a report from a member of the public, to the possibility of someone entering the River Shannon in Athlone town.
The volunteer crew of lifeboat The Eric Rowse were quick to respond, conducting a search above and below the weir in the centre of Athlone town. Conditions were very calm as dawn turned to morning.
After searching a large area of the river and with regular communication with the Irish Coast Guard in Malin Head, the decision was made to stand down the search at 6.54am, and the crew returned to the Station.
Speaking after the call out, volunteer lifeboat operations manager, Tony McCarth, said: “If you suspect you have seen someone fall into the river, throw one of the many life-rings that are along the river banks to them with the end of the safety rope secured so doesn’t end up in the river too, then pull them back to the shore.”
