Arranmore RNLI goes to aid of sailor after yacht gets into difficulty
In the early hours of this morning (Sunday 28 April) the volunteer crew of Arranmore RNLI responded to a call for assistance from Malin Head Coast Guard to a sailor onboard a yacht with loss of power 18 miles west of Arranmore.
While the initial request came at 2.41am, when the crew were about to board their all-weather lifeboat, they were asked to stand down by Malin Head Coast Guard as the yacht’s sailor had managed to raise the sails and was proceeding as planned.
The crew returned home and at 7.43am, they were again asked by the Coast Guard to proceed to the same area as the yacht was failing to make progress. On reaching the casualty, the lifeboat crew assessed the situation and due to the sailor unable to make safe progress, a decision was made to establish a tow and bring the yacht to safe moorings at Arranmore.
Crew onboard the lifeboat were Coxswain Jimmy Early, mechanic Reamon O’Donnell, Sean Gallagher, Jamie Neeson, Sharon O’Donnell, Finbar Gallagher and John Boyle. The lifeboat returned to anchor at 1.45pm having refuelled at Burtonport following a six hour call out.
This was the second call for the all weather lifeboat in five days. At 10.45am on Tuesday evening, (23 April) the volunteer crew assisted in a medical evacuation from Arranmore to a waiting ambulance at Burtonport.
Arranmore RNLI Coxswain Jimmy Early said: ‘We are always happy to give assistance where it is needed. The sailor was really grateful for all the help in bringing him to safety. We have a really dedicated crew here on Arranmore and they are always prepared to go above and beyond the call of duty. We are, at present, recruiting crew members for the lifeboat and invite anybody interested in joining to come to the station for a look and a chat.'
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
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