The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was launched in the very early hours of the morning this week after a boat left Portumna, but never arrived at its destination.
At approximately 1:30am on Tuesday morning the lifeboat was called out to search for two people whose boat had left Portumna around seven hours earlier, but never arrived at Mountshannon.
As the lifeboat was launching, Valentia Coast Guard requested the RNLI volunteers begin their search at Mountshannon, at the southwestern end of the lake, and to take a route north towards Portumna.
At 01:48am, at the same time as the RNLI volunteer monitoring RADAR detected an object in the water, one of the volunteers on watch pointed to a fleeting white outline in the dark.
Using the searchlight, the crew identified it as the boat they were looking for, which was adrift in open water near to Garrykennedy.
When they came alongside the drifting boat, both passengers were found to be safe and well.
The helm decided to take the casualty vessel on an alongside tow to Garrykennedy Harbour, the closest safe harbour, and a crew member set up a tow line.
Both vessels were safely tied up at Garrykennedy by 2:25am, using the searchlight again to help navigate into the harbour in the dark.
Peter Kennedy, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat uses to, “ensure you have sufficient fuel for your journey and always carry a means of communication.”
“Plan your route to arrive at your destination before nightfall. Should you need assistance, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
