Photo : Wicklow/RNLI

Author: Tommy Dover, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer

Both Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat’s launched just before 5-30pm this evening (Sunday 12TH February) after a family out walking contacted the Coast Guard to report what looked like a person floating off the North pier.

The lifeboat volunteers conducted an immediate search of the area along with ‘Rescue 117’ the Coast Guard helicopter from Waterford and Coast Guard shore units from Wicklow and Greystones.

Despite an intensive sea and shoreline search, no person was located but the lifeboat crew found a multi coloured helium balloon drifting south of Wicklow harbour near the Black castle, which could have been mistaken for a person in the water and caused genuine concern.

The Coast Guard Marine Co-ordination centre called off the search before 8-30pm and the lifeboats returned to station.