Crosshaven Lifeboat in 3 hour long distance service

Crosshaven RNLI Inshore Lifeboat undertook one of their longest distance services when they were tasked at 17.02 to a 10m Rib on passage from Falmouth to Baltimore, 12 miles south of Roches Point, when one of the crew suffered a suspected spinal injury. The Lifeboat transferred crewman Kevin Higgins onto the casualty vessel who assessed the injured crewman in radio consultation with the lifeboat Station Doctor. The lifeboat and RIB then proceeded to Crosshaven at a slow 5 knots arriving some 2 hours later. The casualty was then transferred to Cork University Hospital by ambulance. The helm on this Service was Ian Venner with Ritchie Kelleher.

Service to 18' yacht 10 June 2010

This evening the volunteer Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat went to the aid of an eighteen foot yacht on passage from the Kinsale area to Crosshaven. The yacht with two persons on board suffered mechanical failure and was having trouble making way into a headwind.

Initially, the yacht was assisted by the motor Cruiser “Callie” who took them on initial tow and informed the Coastguard in Valentia who made the decision to Launch the Crosshaven lifeboat at 7pm. The Volunteer crew made up of Helm Con Crowley with Vincent Fleming and Ritchie Kelleher made their way to the rendezvous between the Cork Bouy and Rennies Point and relieved the motor cruiser of the tow. Crewman Ritchie Kelleher boarded the yacht and helped rig the tow for the 40 minute journey back to Crosshaven where the yacht was secured.

Helm Con Crowley guides the disabled yacht back to Crosshaven whilst Crewman Ritchie Kelleher assists on the yacht.

Crosshaven Lifeboat Rescues owner and dog from mud bank

A women out walking her dog had a lucky escape this afternoon when she became trapped in mud near Hop Island in Cork harbour on a rising tide.
The women went after her dog which ran onto the mud banks and became
trapped. With the tide rising rapidly, The Crosshaven volunteer RNLI Lifeboat was launched
at 15.09 and crewed by volunteers Vincent Fleming, Bernard Lynch and Dennis Cronin.
The Coastguard Helicopter was also scrambled as were Crosshaven Coastguard and the Fire Service.
When the Lifeboat arrived, crewman Bernard Lynch entered the water to reassure the women who was by now
Waist deep in water and managed to extricate her and take her and her dog onto the Lifeboat. The lifeboat crew
landed the lady to the care of Ambulance personnel.

Four callouts in a week for Crosshaven RNLI

At 2245 this evening, Crosshaven Volunteer RNLI Lifeboat was launched to rescue a 26’ motor boat with two people on board which had suffered mechanical problems in Lough Mahon near Blackrock Castle . On arrival it was seen that the motor boat had grounded on the falling tide. With no possibilty of recovering the vessel, the Lifeboat took off the crew and landed them ashore. An attempt to refloat the vessel will be made around 10am tomorrow (Friday) at high tide. On this service the lifeboat was helmed by Gary Heslin with fellow volunteers Vincent Fleming and new crewman on his first emergency call, Jonathan Grey.

This service brings the total call outs to four this week. On Sunday last, two callouts were to vessels with mechanical problems and on Wednesday evening the lifeboat attended a motor boat which broke free from its moorings and went aground. A spokesman for Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat
Station “urged all leisure users in the harbour area to make sure their vessels are mechanically fit for sea and they are carrying enough fuel to get them back to shore”

Lifeboat saves 9 lives

Whilst on exercise on Sunday 6th December, Crosshaven volunteer RNLI Lifeboat happened upon 9 (nine) people floundering in the water at Lough Mahon in the upper Cork harbour area. The nine people in the water were the cox’n and 8 rowers from the UCC Rowing club. Conditions in Lough Mahon were described as rough with a westerly Force 7 wind blowing which swamped the Rowing boat causing it to partially sink and throw the crewinto the water. The UCC boat had a small safety boat with them, which was struggling to help the rowers. The Lifeboat plucked all
the rowers to safety and administered first Aid for Hypothermia and Shock, before taking them to the Shandon boat club for hot showers and drinks. After making sure everybody was in no further need of medical assistance,the Lifeboat returned to station in Crosshaven. It is believed the rowers were in the cold water for 20 minutes before the arrival of the RNLI Lifeboat. This incident shows the need for everybody using the sea to carry a VHF radio and flares
for use in cases of emergency. If the Lifeboat had not been out on exercise in that particular area and not happened upon the incident, the outcome may have had more serious consequences. This brings the number of services for Crosshaven Volunteer RNLI Lifeboat to 45 this Year.

RNLI honour reluctant hero

On the 8th March last, one of the largest Rescue operations in the Cork harbour area swung into action when a car drove off the cross river ferry between Passage West and Cobh.
Two occupants of the vehicle were seen in the river immediately afterwards and Mr John Geary who lives near the ferry, heard the commotion and saw Lifebouys being thrown into the water from the ferry.
In the failing light, Mr Geary immediately launched his small rowing boat and paddled to the scene where he managed to locate one of the casualties. The small boat was in danger of being swamped when the survivor tried to climb in, but, Mr Geary managed to get the survivor to hold onto the stern of the boat and rowed him to the shore, where with another member of the public, they took him out of the water and handed him to medical personnel. Sadly, the second occupant of the vehicle was never found.

Crosshaven volunteer RNLI Lifeboat attended the scene along with the other rescue services and felt that Mr Gearys selfless actions in saving life were beyond normal expectations and reported Mr Geary’s rescue to the RNLI Headquarters in Poole. It was agreed that Mr Gearys actions warranted that he be honoured, and he has been awarded a framed “letter of Thanks” from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and signed by Mr Andrew Freemantle , the Chief Executive.

The citation reads in part “ I want to commend you on behalf of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for your public spirited and most commendable actions which resulted in the saving of the mans life. Well done. Indeed.”

RNLI Coastal Review Team Praise Crosshaven Lifeboat

In the first coastal review for five years, Royal National Lifeboat Institution inspectors have praised Crosshaven Lifeboat Station as an excellently run station and said they were highly delighted with the standards maintained there.

The team of seven inspectors were led by Rear Admiral John Tolhurst CB, and was comprised of Michael Vlasto, the Operations Director, Peter Killen , the Irish representative on the board of Governors, Vicky Wright, an RNLI Trustee, Hugh Fogarty, Head of Fleet Operations, and Richard Leworthy from the fundraising committee. Martin Smith, the Divisional Inspector for Ireland completed the team.

After an inspection of the Lifeboat and the Station, John Tolhurst outlined to the Station personnel the future of the RNLI and new developments. Michael Vlasto, the operations director, then gave a report on the Crosshaven Lifeboat Station and praised the crew and management for their commitment in maintaining a first class operation under the auspices of Lifeboat Operations Manager Alan Barton. He also expressed his thanks to the Sea Safety Team and the fundraising committee for their good work.

After the formal part of the inspection, the inspectors had refreshments and chatted with the crew present.

The Inspectors are on a 3 day tour of Lifeboat stations between Kinsale and Dun Laoghaire

SAILOR SAVED WITH MINUTES TO SPARE

A lone sailor was plucked to safety this evening moments before his 36' motor launch sank off Roberts Cove, Southwest of Cork Harbour by Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat. The Lifeboat launched at 19.29 with Volunteer RNLI crew of Kieran Coniry, Con Crowley and Gus O’Donovan and was on scene some 15 minutes later. On arrival the vessel was half submerged and sank a few minutes later. It is believed the vessel struck a rock after suffering engine failure. The sailor who was uninjured , but shocked, was returned to Crosshaven by the Lifeboat.

Lucky escape for 7 youths in late-night incident

Seven youths had a very lucky escape early this morning when the small 7’ punt they were in capsized between Crosshaven and Currabinny. Valentia Coastguard received multiple 999 calls at 0052 after their shouts for help were heard by local villagers and live aboard yachtsman. Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat immediately launched with RNLI volunteers Ian Venner as Helm and Vincent Fleming & Kevin Higgins as Crew. White parachute flares were launched from the lifeboat station to illuminate the area whilst the search continued. Two youths made their own way to shore and left the scene. The five other youths were rescued by live aboard yachtsmen as the lifeboat was launching and taken to the Lifeboat Station where they were treated for mild hypothermia. Lifeboat Operations Manager, Alan Barton said "This could very well have ended in tragedy this last night. The punt was heavily overloaded and only two of the youths had lifejackets - one of which had no gas bottle. Furthermore, going afloat after a night out is to be avoided."

He went on to say " Seven families this morning are sitting down to breakfast with their children……It was only by the very smallest of margins the outcome wasn't very different". Mr Barton also praised the two yachtsmen that launched their own dinghys and assisted in rescuing some of the youths.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Jon Mathers
RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer
Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Station
Crosshaven
Co Cork

+353-86-2588714
rnliseasafety@eircom.net
www.crosshavenlifeboat.org

Crosshaven Lifeboat in 3Hr Service

The Volunteer Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat were paged this afternoon ,shortly before 1pm after a 40’ yacht sent out a Mayday Radio call after becoming entangled in nets approximately 3 miles south of Roches Point and near to the Cork Buoy. The Lifeboat was launched within 6 minutes and was helmed by RNLI Volunteer Con Crowley with Vincent Fleming & Denis Cronin. On Scene, the angling boat “Jon Boy” and the yacht “Papillion” were standing by the stricken vessel in case they were needed. The lifeboat crew cut away the nets holding the yacht to the seabed and took her in tow to Crosshaven arriving at 4pm, 3hrs after launch. The Yacht was on passage from Kinsale to Helvick Head with 2 persons on board.