RNLI rescue driver after minibus enters river
A motorist escaped with minor injuries after his vehicle ended up in the river in Arklow in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday) morning.
Gardaí attended the scene following reports of a mini-bus entering the Avoca River shortly after 4 a.m. at the junction of South Green and South Quay, across the river from the Bridgewater Shopping Centre.
The Arklow RNLI were involved in the rescue of the man, who is in his 20s. The local service received a launch request from the Coast Guard at around 4.40 a.m. following a report of a vehicle in the river.
In good conditions, the volunteer crew boarded RNLB Ger Tigchlearr and made their way to the reported position in the Avoca River.
The vehicle was located in a shallow part of the river adjacent to South Green.
It was then decided that
Arklow RNLI volunteers would access the semi-submerged vehicle from the riverbank as, due to the river depth, the lifeboat could not enter the area. The boat carried out further searches of the river downstream.
A crew member managed to wade out and reach the vehicle, establishing that there was one person inside.
Following efforts to open the doors and equalise the pressure, one of the volunteers was able to remove the man from the vehicle.
He was brought to shore and taken to St Vincent’s Hospital by a waiting ambulance crew. His injuries have been described as minor.
Mark Corcoran, Volunteer Press Officer at Arklow RNLI, said: ‘Thankfully this morning was relatively calm, had conditions been worse and had the river been in flood, the situation might not have ended so well, I’d like to say thanks to all of our volunteers.’