Tramore RNLI Rescues Three After Jet Ski Incident Near Pier
- Pat Nolan
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Sunday 31 May 2026
Volunteers from Tramore RNLI rescued three people from rocks beneath cliffs near Tramore Pier on Saturday afternoon (30 May), following a jet ski incident that prompted a multi-agency emergency response.
The volunteer lifeboat crew were paged at 3:46pm after a member of the public reported seeing several people thrown into the water from a jet ski near Tramore Pier. The witness immediately contacted the emergency services, triggering a coordinated response involving Tramore Coastguard, the National Ambulance Service, An Garda Síochána and Tramore RNLI.
Tramore RNLI's D class inshore lifeboat launched at 3:52pm and reached the scene within minutes. The crew quickly located the jet ski before discovering three casualties stranded on rocks beneath the cliffs along the Doneraile Walk.
Two of the casualties were taken aboard the lifeboat and transported safely to Tramore Pier. The lifeboat then returned to the scene and rescued a third casualty from a separate location on the rocks under the cliffs, bringing them ashore shortly afterwards.
Fortunately, all three casualties were reported to be in good health and did not require medical treatment.
Following the rescue, the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre requested that the RNLI crew recover the unmanned jet ski, which was considered a navigational hazard to other water users in the area. The vessel was taken under tow and brought to the Ladies Slip area of Tramore Beach, where members of Tramore Coastguard assisted with its recovery.
The lifeboat returned to station and, after being washed down and refuelled, was declared ready for service again by 4:30pm.
Commenting on the rescue, Tramore RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Clive Smith praised the crew's actions.
"Helm Dave O'Hanlon and crew members Ward Griffin and Peter Kelly carried out a textbook extraction in challenging conditions. Thankfully everyone involved was brought safely ashore," he said.
Mr Smith also urged jet ski and personal watercraft users to prioritise safety before heading onto the water.
"We would encourage anyone using a jet ski or other personal watercraft to always wear a suitable buoyancy aid or lifejacket, carry a means of communication and be aware of the local conditions before launching."
