Stranded teen kayakers rescued from island

SKERRIES RNLI rescued a group of 11 teenagers who got into difficulty while kayaking last Sunday week (June 30).

The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat shortly after 6pm to assist a group of kayakers on Colt Island who were unable to return to shore due to deteriorating weather conditions.

Niall McGrotty, Skerries RNLI Lifeboat operations manager, paged the crew after receiving information from a retired crewmember that there was a group of kayakers stranded on Colt Island.

The lifeboat was helmed by Joe May and had crewmembers Philip Ferguson, David Knight and Adam Scott on board.

Weather conditions at the time were a force five to six northerly wind and choppy seas. Arriving on scene three minutes after launching, the lifeboat found 11 teenage boys with five kayaks sheltering on Colt Island, as they were unable to return to shore against the increasing wind and waves.

All 11 boys were taken on board the lifeboat and the five kayaks were taken in tow. The lifeboat towed the kayaks back to the slipway at the station where the volunteer shore crew recovered them. The lifeboat then brought the teenagers safely back to the harbour.

Speaking after the call out, Joe May, Skerries RNLI Helm, said the boys did the right thing in staying together, remaining on the island and raising the alarm.

“If they had tried to make it back to shore we could have been dealing with a much more serious situation,

? Mr May told Northside People.

“Our volunteer crew are always ready to respond to any emergency and we were happy to bring everyone safely home.

?