A local Red Cross volunteer crew launched an emergency rescue on Lough Corrib early on Monday morning after a local couple were stranded on the lake overnight when their boat got into difficulty.
Five members of the Corrib Mask Rescue, a Red Cross unit, took part in the rescue, battling challenging weather, darkness, and choppy water conditions, to bring the couple to safety.
The pair dialled 999 at about 7am and asked for the coast guard when engine problems and bad weather conditions left them drifting on the lake overnight.
The coast guard called on the Corrib Mask team to launch the rescue.
A spokesperson for the unit, Tim Clesham, said Corrib Mask Resuce is made up of 24 volunteers, who undergo intenstive training and drilling for just such an emergency.
“Although it was dark and the weather and water conditions were challenging, we were still able to find them fairly swiftly and take them to safety,” said Mr Clesham.
“They had been out on the water for quite a long time. They were cold and tired, but otherwise unharmed,” he said.
The Irish Red Cross has an extensive network of volunteers throughout Ireland, who provide assistance in the form of lake and mountain rescue, first aid, ambulance cover, and evacuation support.
The Corrib Mask team has two lifeboats on Lough Corrib and Lough Mask.
