A LIFEBOAT WAS called to the Shannon estuary in gale force winds after a boat lost power in the early hours of this morning.
The incident happened south of Moneypoint power station just before 5am when a rope got wrapped around the boat’s propeller, causing it to lose power.
The people on board the 43ft vessel had been laying cables and carrying out work in the area.
Shannon Coast Guard contacted Kilrush RNLI volunteer lifeboat at 4.59am to rescue the boat, and the lifeboat reached the scene at 5.20am.
Nearby commercial divers were able to remove the rope from the propeller as the lifeboat crew stood by until power was restored to the boat.
A gale warning was in place at the time from Met Éireann, making conditions more difficult for all involved.
“Weather conditions were challenging but our volunteer crews are well prepared for every eventuality,” said Charlie Glynn, the press officer for the Kilrush RNLI lifeboat.
“This is a testament to the level of training and commitment from all at Kilrush RNLI”.
The lifeboat crew, who are all volunteers, got back to their station at 7.10am and most were at work soon afterwards.
“I was here in work for 8am,” said Glynn. “It’s part and parcel of being a volunteer crew”.
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