Lifejacket warning after rescue drama

FOLLOWING a dramatic rescue over the weekend the Fenit RNLI are reminding all seafarers to always wear a life jacket.

Following reports of a person in the sea near Derrymore Island shortly before 5pm on Saturday the volunteer crew of the Fenit RNLI were dispatched to the scene by the Valentia Coast Guard.

Ten minutes after leaving Fenit the rescue boat arrived at the scene where they came to the aid of a man who had managed to swim ashore after his boat overturned.

The man – who wasn’t wearing a life jacket – had been in the water for some 30 minutes before he made it to shore.

While weather conditions would have been calm when he set out to sea force four to five south westerly winds had developed when the incident occurred.

The man was checked medically and was found to be in a good condition.

The man was brought by the RNLI to the overturned boat which was righted.

The boat was towed to Fenit Pier with the owner of the boat on board the lifeboat.

Gerard O’Donnell, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Fenit RNLI was at the station to meet the rescued man.

The crew proceeded to help draw the water out of the swamped boat using a salvage pump and the boat was eventually in a position to be moved to a more protected area close by.

“The Fenit RNLI lifeboat volunteer crew responded with a very quick launch time as we were in the vicinity of the lifeboat station at the time the pagers went off,” said Fenit RNLI Volunteer Lee Sugrue.

“Weather conditions had deteriorated over the course of late afternoon and we are very pleased that there were no casualties today. All seafarers need to respect the water and always wear a life jacket. If at any time you see someone in trouble in the water or need assistance at sea, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard,” he said.