Four call outs for Kinsale RNLI

Kinsale RNLI was involved in four separate rescues over the Bank Holiday weekend, one of which happened by chance during a routine training exercise.

On Saturday morning, Kinsale RNLI lifeboat, ‘Miss Sally Anne Baggy II - Never Fear, Baggy’s Here’, was performing a training exercise off Garretstown beach when crew member David Carter spotted a man in the water.

Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 115 was tasked from Shannon and winched the man aboard to take him for further medical treatment.

“He is a very lucky man as David spotted him by pure coincidence. He was alone in a fairly remote area so it is unlikely anyone else would have seen him and raised the alarm,” said Mr O’Connor.

Shortly after returning to Kinsale lifeboat station, the crew launched for a second time in response to concerns for the safety of a person on board a small inflatable RIB.

The vessel was located and escorted back to the safety of Oysterhaven.

On Monday afternoon, the lifeboat was called out again to assist a 20ft sailing boat with two people on board.

The crew managed to stabilise the boat and safely towed it back to Kinsale’s main pier.

On Monday evening, the lifeboat headed out for a fourth time to assist a yacht that had lost its mast.

The yacht was located just south of the harbour mouth and towed to safety.