Lifeboats launch to investigate inflatable object near beach

BOTH of Wicklow RNLI’s lifeboats were launched on Thursday evening following reports of a large inflatable toy blowing out to sea off Brittas Bay.

The lifeboats launched at 5.30 p.m. and the all-weather lifeboat crew recovered the inflatable toy at the south end of Brittas Bay near Mizzen Head and confirmed that it was unoccupied.

The two lifeboats completed a sweep of the area in case anyone had fallen intro the water.

Contact was also made with lifeguards at Brittas Bay beach, who confirmed that there were no reports of anyone missing from the area.

When the search was completed and the Coxswain satisfied no one was in the water, both lifeboats were stood down by the Coast Guard and returned to their station.

Speaking after the callout, Wicklow Lifeboat Operations Manager Des Davitt said: ‘We would always encourage the public to report any incident where they feel there is a threat to safety at sea.

‘Our trained and highly-motivated crew would much prefer to go to sea and find nothing than to learn of a tragedy because we didn’t launch. Equally, if someone loses an unmanned inflatable, such as a pink flamingo in this case, which is blown or washed out to sea we would appreciate if they could alert the Coast Guard as this could prevent the unnecessary launch of a lifeboat. In case of any doubt always ring 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard,’ said Mr Davitt.

The crew involved in last Thursday’s call-out were second Coxswain Ciaran Doyle, Mechanic Lisa O’Leary, Tommy McAulay, Kevin Rahill, Carol Flahive, Ian Thompson and John Stapleton on the all-weather lifeboat and helm Vinnie Mulvihill, Alan Goucher and Matt Doyle.