The Aran Islands RNLI responded to three call outs over the weekend, bringing the total to ten call outs in the past week, highlighting what has been an exceptionally busy period for the station’s volunteer crew.
The volunteer crew were requested to launch by Valentia MRSC at 3.27pm on Saturday for a medical evacuation from Inis Mór following a suspected spinal injury. The crew received handover from the local doctor and with the Athe casualty was safely transferred onboard. The lifeboat launched from Cill Rónain harbour and made way to Ros a Mhíl where they were met by an awaiting ambulance crew.
The crew returned to Cill Rónain Harbour at 5:28pm and began to tie up when a request to launch came through from Valentia MRSC. A lone sailor was unable to continue their journey due to fatigue, worsening weather conditions and engine failure.
With fresh Force 5 winds and a 2-metre swell, the volunteer crew launched from Cill Rónain Harbour and continued 10 nautical miles to the broken-down yacht. Once on scene, the crew confirmed that the sailor was well, but given the vessel’s location and worsening weather conditions, it was determined that towing was the best course of action.
RNLI Crewmember Brian Ó Cualáin was transferred to the casualty vessel to manage the tow line and to monitor the sailor. The lifeboat safely towed the yacht back to Cill Rónain Harbour and returned to the station at 8.31pm. The third tasking came through on Sunday evening at 6:26pm. Valentia MRSC tasked the lifeboat to launch to a broken-down vessel 3 miles southwest of Ros a Mhíl.
The lifeboat swiftly made way to the vessel, and once contact was made with those on board, it was decided that the best course of action was to tow the vessel to Ros a Mhíl as it was stranded in the middle of the shipping channel.
Once the vessel was towed safely back to Ros a Mhíl, the crew returned to Cill Rónain Harbour. Speaking following the call outs, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Avril Ní Shearcaigh said: it has been a busy week at the station with 10 call outs in just one week.
“We’re very grateful to our volunteers who never hesitate to answer the pager and take time from their busy lives to help save lives at sea. A reminder to all: If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast or think that they are in trouble, use Marine VHF Ch 16 or dial 112 and ask for the Coast Guard,” she said.
