Back to back callouts for Lough Derg RNLI as boats get stranded

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Lough Derg RNLI back to back callouts
Photo: RNLI/Eleanor Hooker

The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was called out to multiple boats run around one after the other on Sunday.

The first callout came shortly after 1:30pm when a 45ft cruiser with seven people aboard ran aground at Navigation Marker G.

Before they even arrived on the scene, Valentin Coast Guard radioed in a report of another three people stranded on a boat at Marker G.

When the lifeboat arrived at the first cruiser I  distress, engineers from the company were already working to free her.

The RNLI cre remained on the scene until they freed the boat the shoal, and it was clear that everyone was safe.

At 2:30pm the lifeboat departed to assist the three people on the second vessel aground.

The 30ft vessel was aground off the Goat Road, a raised shoal for migrating birds.

The lifeboat found all three people to be safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets. Two members of the volunteer RNLI crew crossed over to inspect the vessel.

After finding that it was not holed, the lifeboat took the other boat off the shoals and back into safe waters, where it was in good working order.

Christine O’Malley, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Derg RNLI, advises water users unfamiliar with Lough Derg to “plan your passage and keep a lookout for the next navigation mark on your route. Plan your course to arrive at safe harbour before nightfall.”