The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
DERRYNANE RESCUE BACK ON THE WATER
ALL well that ends well in the case of Derrynane Inshore Rescue group which is now back in action this week after the local community rallied to get the hard-working volunteers back on the water.
The vital rescue group, was stood down just over a week ago, over life-jacket safety concerns were raised by the Irish Coastguard, who had to stand down 23 of their boat rescue units including Dingle.
Concerns were raised after Rescue 400 life-jackets failed to pass safety issues.
It is understood that the issue related to inflation tests.
While there are a number of such community rescue groups in Kerry, not all use the same life-jackets.
All shoreline and cliff rescue services were not affected by the safety concerns and they remain in operation.
However, Derrynane Inshore Rescue was shocked to discover it was affected by the safety issues raised.
“We use the same life-jackets as the Coastguard and we got a call to say that we were called off station,” explained Chairman of Derrynane Inshore Rescue, Jerry Clifford.
This meant the group could no longer respond to rescue calls in the Kenmare Bay area.
“We couldn’t send crews out with malfunctioning life-jackets. We were very worried that we would be needed for a rescue but we wouldn’t be able to go to it.”
“If anything happened we would not be able to go but we couldn’t sit by and do nothing so we did our own thing,” explained Mr Clifford.
Thankfully local support helped Derrynane Inshore Rescue out of the situation.
Local swimming group, Pier Pressure, who swim at Templenoe Pier, had recently donated funds from an exhibition of their swimming spot to the group. Over €2,100 was donated to Derrynane Inshore Rescue. This allowed the rescue service to immediately purchase four new life-jackets and the group are now back in action this week. Four more will be purchased in the New Year.
“We are delighted that the Pier Pressure group had donated the funds to us at this time. We had intended to buy a dry suit but little did we know that we would need to buy life-jackets. It turned out well in the end,” he said.
Bantry Inshore Rescue along came to the group’s aid to help them source new life-jackets.
The Cork group had purchased a large order of new life-jackets for their crew but they allowed Derrynane Inshore Rescue to purchase four Crewsaver life-jackets to get them back in the water as soon as possible.
“We got a happy ending in the end and it is down to support we received.
Everyone was worried for us and worried what would happen but it ended well,” added Mr Clifford.