Galway RNL I responded to a false alarm with good intent on Saturday afternoon (10 December ).
The inshore lifeboat was requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard following a report from a concerned member of the public who spotted two walkers at risk of being cut off by the tide at Hare Island.
The alarm was raised at 1.45pm and the lifeboat helmed by David Badger and with crew members Stefanie Carr, Ian Claxton and Sean O’Loughlin onboard, launched immediately and made its way to the scene.
Weather conditions at the time were clear and waters were calm with below zero air temperatures.
Arriving at the scene, the crew observed that the walkers were safe and well and in a position to safely make their way back to the shore unaided. However, the crew stood by and waited until the two were safely back before returning to the lifeboat station.
Speaking after the call out, Shane Folan, Galway RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said time is always of the essence in situations like this.
“While in this instance the walkers managed to make it safely to shore unaided, we would like to commend the member of the public who raised the alarm when they spotted the hazard, as that is always the right thing to do.
“We would remind anyone planning an activity on or near the sea to check weather and tide times before venturing out and to always carry a means of calling for help should you need to use it. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard,” he said.
