KILRUSH RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew saved the lives of two people on Sunday after their sailing dinghy capsized in difficult conditions south of Hog Island in the Shannon Estuary.
At 18:02 on Sunday evening, Kilrush RNLI was alerted by Valentia Coast Guard that a sailing dinghy had overturned, leaving two people in the water. With fading daylight, cold water, and challenging sea state, every second counted. The lifeboat crew was paged and launched within eight minutes, demonstrating their rapid response capability.
Upon arrival, Kilrush lifeboat crew faced challenging sea conditions that made locating the casualties and their upturned dinghy difficult. After an intensive search, both casualties were found and quickly retrieved from the water. They were medically assessed onboard, with one showing signs of hypothermia.
Recognising the urgency of the situation, the crew immediately returned to Kilrush Lifeboat Station at 18:25, where volunteers continued casualty care until an ambulance arrived.
Both individuals were later taken to University Hospital Limerick, where they have since made a full recovery.
Shawna Johnson, Kilrush RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said, ‘This was a frightening experience for the casualties and we are delighted to hear they have made a full recovery and we wish them well”.
She explained, “From an operations perspective, everything aligned perfectly – from our station mechanic who spotted the dinghy capsize and called the Coast Guard, to the rapid launch of the lifeboat and the expert search and rescue efforts of our crew. The lifesaving work our volunteers do is essential, often challenging, and sometimes dangerous, but they are always prepared to drop everything and respond in a moment’s notice”.
The RNLI reminds everyone to always carry a means of calling for help and wear appropriate safety gear when on the water.
