Busy week for Killaloe Coast Guard

It was a busy week for Killaloe Coast Guard with three call-outs in five days.

On Wednesday last the local unit was tasked at 9.30am to assist members of An Garda Síochána with a missing person search in North Tipperary. Assistance was provided and the unit was stood down at 1.30pm and returned to base.

At 12.15pm on Good Friday, Killaloe Coast Guard unit was tasked at assist in a search operation on Tountinna. Concerned members of the public, who were out walking, contacted Nenagh Garda Station and reported hearing someone who sounded to be in distress, calling out. Land search teams along with the unit’s ATV (All-terrain vehicle), 4x4s and Drone team responded to the area. Visibility in the area was down to a few meters, which made searches very difficult for the search teams. Tipperary Search and Rescue were also tasked to assist in the search operation. A short time after commencing searches, the Coast Guard ATV crew made contact with a maintenance crew working in the area of Tountinna; it was confirmed that this was who the walkers had heard and no one was in distress. All units were stood down and returned to base.

At 1.30pm on Easter Sunday, the unit was tasked to assist a cruiser in Tinarana Bay with five persons on board that was in trouble. Weather conditions at the time were quite poor with southerly force 3/4 winds and heavy hail showers making the rescue operation for the crew very challenging. A crew member was transferred to the vessel where everyone on board was safe and well and wearing life jackets. After an assessment of the vessel and the area around the vessel, it was decided that the safest option was to bring the occupants to safety. The vessel was made safe, the owner contacted with an update and efforts will be made to recover the vessel when weather conditions improve.

A Coast Guard shore team responded from Killaloe and travelled to Two Mile Gate where the rescue boat was able to transfer the five occupants to the awaiting shore team, who arranged for collection in Killaloe.

At 3pm, the crews were stood down and returned to base.