Baltimore RNLI called out twice in one day

Baltimore’s RNLI lifeboat was called out twice yesterday.  

Firstly, crew attended a motorboat that had become propped in Baltimore harbour and subsequently to a medevac on Sherkin Island.  

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 1.22pm to assist a motor boat with one person onboard that had become propped within Baltimore harbour and was in danger of going ashore in a force 5 north west wind.  

The lifeboat, with three volunteer crew onboard, helm Micheal Cottrell and crew members Jerry Smith and David Ryan, reached the motor boat within a couple of minutes of launching from Baltimore lifeboat station.   Crew member David Ryan was put aboard the casualty vessel to assist with attaching a towline.  

The vessel was towed clear of the shore and the trailing fishing gear which had fouled the propeller was cut loose.  

The lifeboat then towed the stricken vessel to the north pier in Baltimore before returning to the station.  Assisting at the lifeboat station were Sean McCarthy, Kieran Collins and John Kearney.   In the second call of the day for Baltimore RNLI, the Irish Coast Guard requested the all-weather lifeboat to launch at 10.32pm for the medical evacuation (medevac) of a female from Sherkin Island.   The lifeboat arrived at the pier on Sherkin Island at 10.46pm and the casualty was brought straight onboard.   The lifeboat then made its way back to the station in Baltimore, returning at 11.03pm.  

The crew handed the casualty over to the care of the HSE Ambulance crew who were waiting at the station.   There were seven volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, coxswain Kieran Cotter, mechanic Sean McCarthy and crew members Jerry Smith, Emma Lupton, David Ryan, Ryan O’Mahony and Don O’Donovan.  

Assisting at the station were Colin Whooley, Micheal Cottrell and Kieran Collins.   Conditions within Baltimore harbour during the second call-out were relatively calm with a westerly force 3-4 wind and no sea swell.  

Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘Lifeboat crews are trained to the highest standards to enable them to assist in the many different and often challenging scenarios they find themselves facing.  If you get into difficulty at sea or on the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’