Busy week for Skerries RNLI volunteers

Saturday 21 June 2025

Skerries RNLI were tasked by Dublin Coast Guard to three separate incidents in less than a week. Launching on Sunday (15 June), Tuesday (17 June) and Wednesday (18 June).

Skerries RNLI towing the motorboat to Malahide. Photo Credit: RNLI/Skerries

On Sunday evening, shortly after 9pm, Dublin Coast Guard requested Skerries RNLI to investigate a report of an upturned vessel drifting near Lambay island. A passing yacht had spotted the vessel and provided GPS co-ordinates. The lifeboat was launched and navigated to the position provided, where they quickly located the stricken vessel, an 18t foot motorboat that had capsized and was partially submerged.

Before commencing a search for any casualties, the crew received updated information to say the sole occupant had been transferred to a nearby angling boat and was safely ashore. As it posed a significant navigation hazard, following a discussion with the Coast Guard, a tow was established, and the vessel was brought to Skerries where it was secured for recovery at a later date.

Conditions at the time were force one to two westerly wind with a slight sea and good visibility.

On Tuesday evening, shortly after 7pm, the volunteers in Skerries RNLI participated in a multi-agency operation with Skerries Coast Guard unit and An Garda Síochána after a person had been spotted unresponsive in the water near Skerries harbour. The lifeboat was launched, and the volunteers recovered the person into the lifeboat before immediately returning back on to the trailer and recovering to the boathouse. The person was later declared deceased, and the body was removed for a postmortem.

The volunteers in Skerries launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat again shortly before 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon following a call to Dublin Coast Guard from a boat that had suffered engine failure 2 miles east of Lambay island.

As the lifeboat approached the position given, they immediately located the casualty vessel, a 10 metre motorboat, with one man on board. They confirmed that the boat had suffered an engine failure, and with no other vessels in the area the helm decided to tow the boat to the nearest safe port in Malahide. The tow was established, and the man was brought safely into Malahide marina.

The lifeboat then returned to Skerries where it was recovered to the station, refuelled and made ready for the next service.

Conditions at the time were force one to two south easterly wind with a smooth sea and excellent visibility.

Between the call outs, the volunteers in Skerries also launched for their regular training, conducted a joint training exercise with the Irish Navy and Skerries Coast Guard, and received a demonstration session from Skerries Coast Guard on their new search and rescue drone.

Speaking about the busy period, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said “First of all the thoughts of everyone at the station are with the family and friends of the person recovered on Tuesday evening. It has been an exceptionally busy time for our volunteers and with the good weather this weekend we will see even more people heading for the coast. If you see someone in difficulty in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”