THERE ARE two towns called Ballina and confusion over the location of a potentially serious incident resulted in Irish Coast Guard teams from two stations, almost 200km apart, being mobilised.
The service appealed to callers to give their exact location when they make contact. The alarm was raised at about 8.30pm on Sunday when the Coast Guard service received a call reporting that a man had jumped into the river at Ballina.
It was not made clear whether the incident related to the river Shannon at Ballina, Co Tipperary, or the river Moy at Ballina, Co Mayo. When attempts to contact the caller’s mobile phone failed, Coast Guard teams from Killaloe, Co Clare, and Killala, Co Mayo, were mobilised.
Rescuers found the pair had made it to Ballina slipway and assisted in their removal.
“It is vitally important that anyone calling the 999/112 emergency number gives as much detail as possible to avoid any confusion,” said a Coast Guard spokesman.