The Galway and Aran Islands RNLI lifeboats were called into action on Friday evening after a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) got into difficulty off the North Clare coast.
Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry tasked both volunteer lifeboat crews at around 8.30pm.
They were requested to launch and investigate a report from a member of the public of a RIB in possible difficulty approximately 1km off the coast of Fanore Beach.
The Aran Islands RNLI located the boat with a lone occupant at 9.15pm off Fanore.
The lifeboat crew observed that while the casualty was safe and well, they showed signs of exhaustion and exposure and was therefore transferred onboard the All-weather lifeboat and given water and blankets to heat up.
As the RIB was drifting into the main channel and could create a potential navigational hazard, it was decided that the safest option was to establish a tow and pull the boat clear.
The Aran Islands lifeboat towed the vessel into Ballyvaughan Bay where the Galway inshore lifeboat crew took it on tow into Ballyvaughan Pier. Once the vessel tied up and the casualty safely ashore both, both lifeboat crews returned to their respective bases.
Speaking afterwards, Aran Islands Coxswain Ó hIarnáin said: ‘The member of the public did the right thing in raising the alarm as darkness was beginning to set in. We strongly advise boat owners to carry out essential pre‑launch checks, including the condition of the hull, engine, fuel system, steering, batteries, and onboard safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and communication devices.’
