Fethard RNLI assists two kayakers in difficulty off Baginbun Head
- Pat Nolan
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
Friday 3 July 2025
Fethard RNLI assisted two kayakers in difficulty off Baginbun Beach in force five winds on Thursday evening (3 July). Onlookers on Baginbun beach had noticed the kayakers in distress and raised the alarm with the Coast Guard.
The inshore lifeboat Naomh Dubhán was requested at 5.42pm and the volunteer crew made it ready for immediate launch.
The lifeboat helmed by James Barry made its way to the scene where the crew located the casualties shortly after 6pm with shore assistance from Fethard-on-Sea Coast Guard. Visibility was good with force five winds and slight to moderate waves.
The casualties were wearing personal flotation devices and were uninjured. Some quick-thinking from the casualties to tie their kayaks together ensured they were not separated by the wind. Having assessed the situation, a decision was made to transfer the casualties to the lifeboat and return to Baginbun Beach with the kayaks under tow to prevent a hazard to navigation. The lifeboat crew handed the casualties over to Fethard-on-Sea Coast Guard on the shore.
Speaking after the call out, Fethard RNLI Helm James Barry said: ‘ We would like to commend the kayakers friends on shore who did the right thing by calling for help and we wish everyone well.
'Despite fine weather, offshore winds can blow kayaks away from the beach and cause difficulties for kayakers to make their way back to shore. It is important to always wear a personal flotation device and have a means of calling for help when heading out to sea. If you do see somebody in difficulty on the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’
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