Crosshaven RNLI rescue Kayaker and assist another

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat this afternoon (Sunday 23 Oct) rescued one person who had become capsized from his kayak within Cork Harbour. Conditions at the time were poor with 2m seas and Gale force 8 to 9 winds. A member of the public alerted the Coast Guard at Valentia to the plight of the Kayakers near Fort Camden. Crosshaven Volunteer lifeboat launched immediately with Jonathan Grey, Vincent Fleming and Ian Venner in command. The kayakers had drifted further into the harbour when the lifeboat found a person in the water holding onto his kayak for bouyancy. He and his kayak were quickly brought onto the liferaft. A second kayaker was also taken onboard the lifeboat due to the serious weather conditions. Both kayakers were well equipped and required no medical intervention.

The casualties and their kayaks were put ashore at Cobh.

Crosshaven RNLI crew member retires

At a function on Saturday last, Gary Heslin retired from active service with the volunteer RNLI Crosshaven lifeboat after eleven years service. Gary, a firefighter with Cork City fire brigade has been a member
of the crew and a Helm since the station was established in 2000.

Gary now moves to the back room staff of the lifeboat station. In the photograph, Treasurer Matt Foley presents Gary with his parting gift!

Busy evening for Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat with angler rescued from rocks

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat were tasked to two incidents in quick succession this evening (Wed 31 Aug). The volunteer crew were initially paged at 20.15 to a RIB (rigid inflatable Boat) with three persons on board that had broken down in the Drakes pool area of the Owenabue River. The lifeboat was quickly on scene and towed the vessel to the slipway where it was safely recovered.

The lifeboat had also been recovered and made ready for sea when the second call of the evening came in. A shore angler was cut off by the tide in the Nohoval Cove area, but due to a poor and intermittent telephone signal, his exact position was unknown. Oyterhaven Coast Guard and the fishing vessel “Veronica” provided extra back up to the lifeboat during the search with the “Veronica” providing powerful searchlight illumination and relaying radio communications.

Eventually, the man was located and taken off the rocks by the lifeboat and put ashore into the care of the Coast Guard. Four hours after the original call out, the volunteer lifeboat crew returned to station and once again recovered and refuelled the lifeboat ready for the next call.

Crosshaven RNLI assist person & dogs at Roberts Head

A man who scrambled down a cliff to retreive his dog, ended up up being evacuated from the cliff base by Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat.

At 6.10pm this evening, Valentia Coast Guard tasked the lifeboat with volunteers Vincent Fleming, Denis Cronin and Kieran Coniry to the incident at Barry Head. Oysterhaven and Crosshaven Coast Guard units were at the cliff top, but the casualty was unwilling to face the steep ascent. Helmsman Kieran Coniry skilfully brought the lifeboat to within wading distance of the shore where the man and his two dogs were brought onboard. The casualty was put ashore into the care of the Coast Guard at Nohoval Cove.

Commenting on the incident, RNLI deputy launching authority, Patsy Fegan said “This incident underlines the fact that members of the public should think carefully before chasing after pets which in turn may put them in a position of danger. Thankfully, this service had a good outcome.”

Crosshaven RNLI appeals for fundraising volunteers

Crosshaven RNLI is looking for people with a few hours to spare to join the fundraising branch of Crosshaven Lifeboat Station. If you can spare a few hours each year or would like to get more actively involved with the branch, then Trudy Austin, the Branch Secretary would like to hear from you. Trudy can be contacted on via the station.

The AGM of Crosshaven Lifeboat station will take place in the Station on Wednesday 17th May at 7.30pm. This is open to all, and we would be especially pleased to see new faces interested in helping out with fundraising.

Man saved in river rescue

Crosshaven RNLI volunteer Lifeboat launched at 17.22 (18th April) after a RNLI member who was driving by noticed an elderly man clinging to the side of his boat after falling in at limekiln corner on the Owenabue River. Fortunately, volunteer Lifeboat crew were working nearby the station and the Atlantic 75 lifeboat ‘Miss Betty’ was launched almost immediately. On arrival, the by now hypothermic and exhausted casualty was taken aboard the ILB (inshore Lifeboat) and rushed to the station. The Honorary medical adviser gave the casualty a hot shower along with a full health check.

It is understood that the Gentleman fell into the water whilst transferring to his punt. He tried on a number of occasions to reboard his boat to no avail. Commenting on the rescue, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Alan Barton remarked “he didn’t think the man could have held on much longer, but with the speedy response of the lifeboat with the volunteer crew, it all worked out well.”

Toasty Toes for volunteer RNLI crew

When local Businessman and keen sailor, Jim McGinley, heard that a number of the volunteer crew at Crosshaven RNLI were using Heat Holder socks when on Miss Betty, the inshore lifeboat (ILB), He decided to do something for all of the crew.

Jim, Who’s company distributes the thermal socks, arrived at the lifeboat Station with 30 pairs of the socks to be distributed to the crew and shore helpers for those long cold nights when the lifeboat is at sea on service.

Thinking of the Ladies in the crew, he donated socks in pink as well as blue and green !

Alan Barton, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Crosshaven RNLI, thanked Jim and his Company for his generous donation which will ‘no doubt, give extra warmth and comfort to the crews whilst on service in cold and arduous conditions’

Photograph Crosshaven RNLI/Jon Mathers

Back Lifeboat Operations Manager Alan Barton, Jim McGinley. Front, Lifeboat Crew, Con Crowley, David Venner and Alan Venner

Fisherman missing after boat flounders

A day of tragedy and drama unfolded today (20 Jan) when the volunteers of Crosshaven RNLI Station were tasked to an incident where a small fishing boat with two persons onboard had capsized close to the shoreline, West of Ringabella Bay. The informant was the Skipper of the vessel after he had
managed to swim to shore and run through fields to raise the alarm. His crewman was missing.

A major rescue operation got underway with the Crosshaven RNLI inshore lifeboat, Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat, the Naval Vessel LE Emer, the Coastguard helicopter Rescue 117, Crosshaven Coastguard unit and many privateb fishing and leisure craft all taking part.

Unfortunately, the missing crewman has not yet been found, Although Crosshaven and Ballycotton lifeboats are planning a two hour low water search between 2300 and 0100. The full search will resume tomorrow (Friday)
at first light.

Shortly after the crews returned to Crosshaven for dinner, the pagers again activated at 1909, this time to another 25' fishing vessel near Roches Point taking in water. Both Crosshaven and Ballycotton Lifeboats launched and placed salvage pumps aboard the casualty and stemmed the ingress of water enough to place the vessel under tow to Cobh, where she was safely berthed.

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat finishes 2010 with double callouts

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat has finished 2010 with two services on the last day of the first decade,making 2010 the busiest year of its 10 year existence.

The Volunteer crew members were awoken by pagers just after 4am, and requested to launch to the aid of a woman on rocks near Myrtleville. A combined rescue operation by the RNLI, Fire Service, Crosshaven Coastguard and the HSE brought the women to safety and onwards to hospital, where she is recovering. The volunteer crews headed back to their beds at 6.30 in the morning.

The afternoon peace was shattered by the shrill sound of pagers, again calling the crew. Valentia Marine rescue Centre informed the station of a 38 foot commercial fishing vessel which had become entangled in its own nets. The volunteer crew of Con Crowley, Gary Heslin and Vincent Fleming made their way through a moderate to rough sea to the vessel which was
near Power Head. As the vessels nets were also attached to the seabed, the nets had to be cut away before the Lifeboat could establish a tow back to Crosshaven, arriving some two hours later.

Lifeboat responds to sinking fishing boat

A major rescue operation swung into operation on Saturday Morning ( 13 Nov) outside Cork Harbour when a 27’ fishing boat sank in minutes with two people on board.

At 11.19am , Valentia Coast Guard alerted Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat that the fishing Vessel was in serious trouble off the Church Bay area and requested an immediate launch. Crosshaven lifeboat launched within 5 minutes and with its volunteer crew of Kieran Coniry, Dan O’Donoghue and Vincent Fleming, made good progress through a two metre sea swell arriving on scene to find the fishing boat had at this stage sank and the crew safely in the Liferaft.

The Ballycotton RNLI all weather Lifeboat was at sea on exercise at the time and immediately altered course to the incident. Crosshaven Coast Guard were also tasked and en route. When it became clear that the two crewmen were safely aboard the Crosshaven Lifeboat, the other emergency services were stood down. Crosshaven Lifeboat then brought the two fisherman back to Crosshaven.

Whilst it is unknown what caused the fishing boat to flounder, the crew had little time to deploy their liferaft and make an emergency call before the boat sank.