With the weather improving, Cork’s brave coast guard units will be increasingly busy in the months ahead as more and more people take to the water. Today, crews in Crosshaven were tasked with two separate callouts, the second of which involved rescuing two crew members from a yacht miles from shore.
It was a very early start to the day for the Crosshaven unit, who were called out to Cork city shortly after 2 am this morning after reports that a man had fallen into the water. The report prompted a swift response from Gardaí, the Cork City Fire Brigade, and the Irish Coast Guard.
However, shortly before the coast guard arrived, the search was stood down after the man was found safe and well on dry land. Other crew members were on shift overnight, supervising the Darkness into Light walks around Crosshaven, and, despite the long day, crews mobilised once again shortly before noon after fresh reports of a ship in difficulty.
Members of the Crosshaven Coast Guard on today’s callout(Image: Crosshaven CG )
The crew suited up for their second deployment of the day after a yacht had gotten into difficulty around two nautical miles off Roche’s Point. The lifeboat made contact with the crew of the 15m yacht shortly after arriving on the scene, and two coast guard members boarded the boat to assess the crew and assist them with bringing the ship back to dry land.
The coast guard took over the helm, and the vessel was brought back to the Royal Cork Yacht Club under the lifeboat’s escort. Upon arrival, the crew members were assessed by the coast guard’s shore crew and are now safe and well.
A spokesperson for the Crosshaven Coast Guard said: “MRSC Valentia activated the pagers of Crosshaven Coast Guard at 11.25 this morning in what has been a busy morning for volunteers to the assistance of a 15m yacht 2nm south of Roche’s Point with 2 persons onboard.
“Upon rendezvous with the vessel, Crosshaven Coast Guard transferred 2 crew to the casualty vessel to assess and assist the persons onboard. The 2 crew onboard took over the helm and brought the vessel to the Royal Cork Yacht Club under escort from our own boat.
“The 2 persons onboard and the vessel are now safe and well alongside the marina in Crosshaven with assistance from our shore crew.”
The Crosshaven team also took the opportunity to encourage the public to contact them should they need assistance at sea or suspect someone is in difficulty in the water. Members of the public can dial 112/999 to reach the Irish Coast Guard, an act that could save a life over the coming summer season.