A RESCUE OPERATION involving numerous agencies took place yesterday to save four men who were caught adrift on the River Lee in Co Cork.
Four young men unhooked a section of pontoon, which was harboured in ‘The Marina’ on the River Lee, and were attempting to float over to the Tivoli section on the other side, when they got into some difficulty.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, a spokesperson for the Irish coastguard said the incident was reported to the coast guard in the area at around 8.40am yesterday morning after a passer-by noticed the four men – who were not wearing life jackets – in some distress.
It is believed the men were returning from a night out.
A mayday message was broadcast which led to an emergency rescue effort that involved the Crosshaven coast guard, An Garda Síochána and an RNLI lifeboat.
Air support in the form of a helicopter was also called out to the scene of the rescue.
The men were removed from the water by the gardaí and attended to by the local coast guard, who towed the section of pontoon back to its original area after the incident.
The four men were arrested by Garda from Anglesea Street for the theft of the pontoon.
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