|
|
Swilly lifeboat rescued eight last
year
28.01.14
EIGHT people were
rescued last year by the brave crew of the Lough
Swilly lifeboat which launched 25 times, new RNLI
figures show.
Other Donegal figures show that 33 people were
resuced by Arranmore lifeboat which launched 32
times in 2013.
Bundoran lifeboat saved six people and launched 14
times.
Crews at the the 44 lifeboat stations around the
country launched 1,087 times bringing 1,278 people
to safety in 2013. |
 |
|
RNLI crew in action on the high seas. |
The statistics show
that the majority of last year’s call outs were to
pleasure craft which accounted for 583 services,
while there were 138 launches to fishing vessels.
Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s all-weather and inshore
lifeboats had the most launches in 2013, with its
crew rescuing 67 people during 58 call outs.
Enniskillen RNLI, which operates from two inland
stations in Fermanagh, brought the most people to
safety, with 82 individuals rescued from 56 call
outs. More than half of those services were carried
out in the dark.
The charity’s volunteer lifeboat crews also had 142
call outs to people classed as ashore. These
services included assisting people who were ill or
injured on an island, cliff or the shoreline, where
access by lifeboat was the fastest or safest way to
reach the casualty.
On 10 occasions, lifeboat crews were also called
upon to rescue animals in 2013. These included four
dogs, two sheep, a cow, two whales and a dolphin.
In a year when Ireland enjoyed one of its hottest
summers, the overall statistics show an increase of
132 lifeboat launches in 2013, up from 955 in 2012
to 1,087. There was also an upsurge in the number of
rescues with 221 more people brought to safety over
the 12 month period.
RNLI Operations Manager for Ireland Martyn Smith
said: Our lifeboat crews are highly trained and
equipped to deal with the challenges they face and
we are indebted to their dedication to respond when
the need arises.
Sadly not every call out results in a rescue and
2013 also brought its share of tragedy. A number of
our call outs involved searches for missing people
and in some incidents, they involved bringing home
loved ones who were lost at sea. These call outs
while challenging for all involved, demonstrate the
commitment and seamanship of our crews who devote
many hours to a search and recovery effort," he
said.
He thanked all the volunteers and supporters of the
RNLI, a charity dependent on public donations. |
|
