TWO MEN HAD a lucky escape last night, after they were thrown from their motor-craft when it hit a navigation buoy off Cobh in Co Cork.

Their vessel, an inflatable RIB, sped off from the scene of the crash — traveling in circles and eventually crashing outside the town’s Titanic Bar.

The men had a lucky escape, managing to dodge the out-of-control vessel and eventually swimming ashore.

Crosshaven’s RNLI lifeboat, Guileen and Crosshaven Coast Guard, the Cork harbour pilot launch and the Coast Guard Rescue 117 all responded to the call-out, at around 10.40pm last night.

Gardaí located the men “shocked and suffering the effects of mild hypothermia” according to a spokesperson for Crosshaven RNLI.

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The men received medical treatment, but were not taken to hospital.

Their craft, which was damaged on impact with the shore, was towed back to the lifeboat station.

Patsy Fagen of Crosshaven Lifeboat said the incident could have been avoided if the men had employed a ‘kill cord’ which would have automatically shut-off the engine.

“Thankfully, this service ended with a good result, but could quite easily have resulted in fatalities. We urge all leisure boat users to get trained and always use a kill cord when driving powered vessels.”

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