THE KILLALOE unit of the Irish Coast Guard (ICG) rescued 10 people from two boats which got into difficulties in gale-force winds on Lough Derg on Saturday.
One man was treated in hospital for a broken arm and rope burns after the crew of one boat attempted to tow another vessel to safety. The boat had run aground near Deer Rock off Derrycastle in Co Tipperary. However, as a result of high winds on the lake, both craft ended up in difficulty.
The crew raised the alarm shortly after 4pm and the Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Sub Centre at Valentia Island in Co Kerry, which co-ordinated the rescue operation, scrambled the ICG unit from Killaloe in Co Clare.
Volunteer rescuers arrived at the scene quickly and after assessing the situation, evacuated the smaller vessel, taking a total of six people to safety. The ICG crew took the stricken boat under tow to Killaloe.
The second vessel was able to travel under its own power to the ICG station in Killaloe where one person was treated for a broken arm and rope burns. An ambulance removed the casualty to the Midwestern Regional Hospital in Limerick for further treatment. Another adult and two children were escorted safely to their mooring at Killaloe.
Conditions at the time in the area were said to be poor, with southwesterly winds blowing force 5 to 6 knots.
A spokesperson for the Coast Guard said: “The conditions were bad at the time. When we got on scene we took six people off one boat and towed the boat back to Killaloe. The second vessel was to make its own way to Killaloe Coast Guard station.
“An ambulance from Scarriff was waiting at the pier to render medical assistance to one person who suffered rope burns and a fracture to right lower arm. The ambulance took the casualty to the regional hospital in Limerick for further treatment.”
Earlier in the day, the Killaloe ICG crew was sent to assist a cruiser with two adults and two children on board which had run aground, also in high winds, near Terryglass, Co Tipperary.
The vessel was listing badly. However the quick actions by the crews of two private boats, which were operating in the area at the time, meant the cruiser was taken to safety before rescuers arrived at the scene.
The Killaloe ICG team was down just off Dromineer and returned to base. No one was injured in the incident.