RNLI volunteers leap into action to assist fishing boat drifting towards rocks off the Wexford coast

A 10m fishing boat with a fouled propeller drifted dangerously toward the rocks off the Wexford coast near the Keeragh Islands, about 1.5km from Bannow. The Coast Guard received an emergency call at 2.18 p.m. on Saturday. Kilmore Quay RNLI launched the Tamar class lifeboat RNLB Killarney with five crew members under Coxswain Nigel Kehoe. The lifeboat arrived around 2.45 p.m., checked that everyone on board was safe, and assessed conditions including wind and tides. A tow was established to bring the disabled craft back to shore, reaching Kilmore Quay at 3.50 p.m. The coxswain praised the crew for raising the alarm quickly and urged wearing life jackets and carrying a way to call for help, calling 999 or 112 for the Coast Guard.

"The volunteer lifeboat crew at Kilmore Quay RNLI were once again called into action over the weekend, to assist with a fishing boat with a fouled propeller that was drifting dangerously towards the rocks off the Wexford coast. The crew of the 10m fishing boat called for assistance after they were left drifting towards the Keeragh Islands, approximately 1.5km off the coast of Bannow."

"The emergency call came in from the Coast Guard at 2.18 p.m. on Saturday, and Kilmore Quay RNLI immediately launched their Tamar class lifeboat, RNLB Killarney, with five crew members on board under the leadership of Coxswain Nigel Kehoe. Arriving at the scene at around 2.45 p.m, the lifeboat crew first checked that everyone on board the fishing boat was safe and well, before carrying out an assessment."

"Taking into consideration the wind and tidal conditions on site, it was decided that the safest course of action was to establish a tow to bring the disabled craft back to shore, arriving at Kilmore Quay at 3.50 p.m. Coxswain Nigel Kehoe commended the crew of the fishing vessel for raising the alarm so quickly."

""The lads made the right decision to call for assistance when they did," he said. "We would remind anyone planning a trip to sea to always wear a life jacket and to always carry a means of calling for help. If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.""

Read at Irish Independent