Lough Ree RNLI crew endure busy start to the season

The volunteers and crew of Lough Ree RNLI has endured a busy start to the season responding to five call outs and assisting 11 people in difficulty on the water in the past six weeks.

In the most recent incident, the volunteer crew were called to assist a fishing boat with two people on board which suffered engine failure. At the start of the Bank Holiday weekend, on the afternoon of Friday, May 2, the Coast Guard alerted Lough Ree to the incident on the lake.

Launched just before 5pm under helm Liam Sheringham and with crew members Billy Henshaw Jnr, Shane McCormack and Stan Bradbury, the lifeboat reached the scene, north of Clawinch Island and west of Inchenagh Island 20 minutes later.

The crew found two people on board the boat which had lost power, was emitting smoke from the engine compartment and was drifting towards rocks. The two casualties were quickly transferred from the stricken boat to the charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall.’

Following further examination, the fishing boat was towed to Coosan Point while the casualties were taken to the Lifeboat Station.

This was the third case of engine failure this year. On April 6, the crew assisted a 30 foot motor cruiser with two people on board near Kings Island while on 11 April a 55 foot barge with two people on board suffered engine failure south of Nuns Island.

Meanwhile, on April 24 the RNLI towed a 36 foot cruiser with a damaged propellor which had run aground in Galey Bay with two people on board. Earlier in the season a 33 foot cruiser with three people on board which ran aground north of Hare Island was assisted.

"It is vital that all those taking craft on to the water for the first time this season should ensure that the engines are checked, serviced and fit for purpose since much of the equipment can suffer deterioration over the winter season," Lough Ree RNLI helm Liam Sheringham said.