Howth RNLI launch as part of multi-agency rescue of family at Lambay Island

The volunteer crew of Howth RNLI launched their All-Weather Lifeboat on Friday as part of a multi-agency rescue of a family who’s powerboat had suffered engine failure and ended up on rocks at Lambay Island, off the north Dublin coast.

Lifeboat crew were paged at 2:37pm by Dublin Coast Guard after receiving a 999 call from the family.

The lifeboat was launched within ten minutes with seven crew on board.

Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 and Skerries RNLI were also tasked to the emergency.

Conditions were good with a westerly wind and slight swell.

Once on scene, the crew observed the family had abandoned the boat and were on the rocks and unable to safely make it ashore to the island.

The lifeboat crew launched their daughter boat, the XP boat, which allows crew to get in close to rocks to assist.

Rescue 116 lowered a winchman to assess the family and observed that all were in good health and wearing lifejackets.

In consultation with the crew on the XP boat, and given the conditions on scene, the decision was taken that the safest approach to the rescue was to winch the family on board the helicopter.

The crew in the XP boat cleared the area to allow the helicopter to commence the winching operation.

The family were winched one-by-one on board the helicopter and taken to Rescue 116’s base at Dublin Airport.

The volunteer lifeboat crew from Skerries RNLI, on board their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, attempted to recover the powerboat but given the conditions and the location of the boat on rocks, it was unable to safely recover the boat.

Speaking following the rescue, the Coxswain of Howth RNLI Fred Connolly, who was in command of the lifeboat, said: “Today we launched to an emergency involving a family including four children who were washed up on rocks and unable to make their way to safety. Once on scene, our crew quickly launched the XP boat so that we could get in close and assess the situation.

“Given the treacherous location, the decision was taken to recover all six casualties on board Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116.

“The family were all wearing lifejackets and although shaken, were in good health.

“They did the right thing in calling for help as soon as they got into difficulty.

“Our volunteer crew commit to dropping what they are doing and responding to the pager once it goes off, knowing that lives can be in danger.

“We train regularly for these situations and we are able to do this thanks to the generous donations of our supporters.”

The callout came at the beginning of the May bank holiday weekend, which traditionally sees the start of the summer busy season and an expected increase in demand for lifesaving services.

This May the charity is putting out its own ‘Mayday’ call, urging members of the local community to take part in the Mayday Mile – taking on the challenge of covering a mile a day for the month of May.

Funds raised will help support the charity’s vital lifesaving work, including the provision of important training and kit for the volunteer lifeboat crews who readily risk their own lives to save others whenever the call for help comes in.

Sign up for the Mayday Mile now and find out more at rnli.org/SupportMayday