Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew came to the emergency assistance of three stricken vessels on Lough Ree in recent times.
On the first occasion, seven individuals on board a cruiser which had run aground on the lake, were rescued on Thursday last.
Under volunteer helm Shane McCormack the Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew launched just before 5.30pm to go to the aid of the stricken cruiser stranded north of Nun’s Island on Lough Ree. Launched in cloudy conditions and with poor visibility the volunteer lifeboat crew reached the scene at 5.45pm.
On arrival at the scene one of the volunteer crew boarded the cruiser and found all seven people on board well. A tow line was attached and the Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ towed the vessel from its grounded position. Following an inspection the volunteer lifeboat crew escorted the cruiser to safe water from where it continued south towards Athlone.
“With the present unseasonal weather all lake users should be aware of how quickly conditions change on the lake and keep up to date with weather forecasts,” Jude Kilmartin, Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, said.
Following this incident, the Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew further responded to additional emergency calls coming to the assistance of eight people on two different cruisers on Lough Ree on Saturday last.
In the first instance a boat had become grounded on a rock shelf, west of Inchmore Island on Lough Ree. The Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat was launched and reached the scene just before midday. The 17ft cruiser was found grounded and on inspection the engine of the boat was in need of repair.
In bright and breezy conditions the Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew took the boat under tow and brought it safely to a berth at Coosan Point marina.
Just before 6pm the Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ was back in the water with another volunteer crew coming to the assistance of a 34ft. which had run aground at Kid Island on Lough Ree. Under RNLI volunteer helm Emmet Devereux the craft was refloated and continued on its way.
“Following unusual weather patterns obstacles on the lake can be hidden in rising waters. Boating enthusiasts are reminded of the importance of navigating within the marker buoys on the lake,” Tom Bradbury, one of the helms at Lough Ree RNLI, asserted.
