Sir, - Last weekend, at Baltimore, west Cork, I witnessed an air-sea rescue operation put into immediate action following a diving incident and phone-call to the coastguard service.
The speed with which the call was answered, the co-ordination of personnel and the immediacy of the rescue left me in awe. The professionalism of all involved was inspiring.
Last year the Coastguard Service responded to 1,718 incidents at sea. It assisted and saved 4,831 lives. The two coastguard helicopters responded to 259 calls, the Air Corps to 129 calls and the RNLI to 514 calls.
Sadly, this service had to deal with 54 hoax calls which placed other genuine emergencies at in creased risk and danger.
We are an island nation. Many of us involved in watersports owe so much to the professionals and volunteers who dedicate their lives to the cause of others at sea. This service should never be taken for granted. - Yours, etc.,
Rosaleen Maguire, Serpentine Avenue, Dublin 4.