Two rescued after several hours adrift in Lough Derg

Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch and search for the two people, who had set out from Portumna, Co Galway, for Mountshannon, Co Clare, several hours earlier, but had not arrived at their destination.

At 1.39am the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker and crew Doireann Kennedy, Chris Parker and Ciara Lynch on board.

In a statement, the RNLI said it was “moonless, starless night” and the volunteers used “local knowledge and all their electronic equipment” to navigate in the dark.

As the lifeboat was launching, Valentia Coast Guard requested the RNLI volunteers to begin a search at Mountshannon, at the south-western end of the lake, and to take a route north towards Portumna.

Just before 2am, volunteers monitoring radar detected an object in the water, and a “fleeting white outline” was spotted in the dark. The crew used their search light and determined that it was the casualty vessel, which was adrift in open water close to Garrykennedy.

When the lifeboat came alongside, volunteers found that both casualties were safe and unharmed.

They were requested to put on their lifejackets and RNLI helm Eleanor Hooker ordered for the casualty vessel to be towed to Garrykennedy Harbour, the closest safe harbour. At 2.25am the vessel was safely tied alongside at Garrykennedy. The lifeboat crew made contact with a friend of the stranded passengers and arranged for them to be collected.

Peter Kennedy, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI, has urged boat users 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”.