Family of four rescued from cruiser on Lough Derg following reported fire

Lough Derg RNLI has assisted a family of four on a 28ft cruiser reported on fire.

At 11.59am this Sunday, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist a family of four who were on board a 28ft cruiser which was reported to be on fire.

At 12.16am Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, crew Doireann Kennedy, Joe O’Donoghue and Tom Hayes on board.

The wind was westerly Force 2. Visibility was very good.

As the lifeboat was launching, Valentia Coast Guard informed the volunteers that the family had been taken off the casualty vessel, and that colleagues at Killaloe Coast Guard had also launched to assist.

At 12.26am the lifeboat could see the casualty vessel just south of Lough Derg Navigation Mark E. The family had transferred onto a 18ft fishing boat, which was standing off close by.

At 12.32am the lifeboat came alongside the fishing vessel and found the casualties to be safe, unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.

The skipper of the casualty vessel informed the lifeboat crew that when he noticed smoke and an acrid smell coming from the engine housing he immediately shut down the engine.

And with that, the smoke emission ceased. They were unable to deploy their anchor as it required the engine to be running to operate.   

Once satisfied that sufficient time had elapsed and the engine had cooled, the RNLI helm permitted the skipper and an RNLI volunteer to board the casualty vessel.

The skipper found that a piece of cloth was in contact with the engine’s exhaust system, and identified it as the source of the smoke and smell. 

The cloth was removed, and the casualty vessel’s engine started immediately when tried.

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The lifeboat informed Valentia Coast Guard of the findings and of the decision to take one adult and the two infants onto the lifeboat from the fishing vessel, and to accompany the casualty vessel to Dromineer Harbour with the skipper and an RNLI volunteer on board.

However, at 12.45pm, the engine on the casualty vessel failed.

As the Killaloe Coast Guard was now on scene, the RNLI helm requested that the mother and two infants be transferred for the RNLI lifeboat to the Coast Guard lifeboat and be taken ahead to Dromineer.

Given the remote location and the inability to secure the cruiser, the helm made the decision to take the casualty vessel under tow to the closest safe harbour, in Dromineer.

Valentia Coast Guard was informed.

The casualty vessel was safely tied alongside in Dromineer Harbour at 1.44pm. The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at station at 1.50pm

Commenting following this Sunday's incident, Christine O’Malley, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Derg RNLI, said: "As we are now heading into the summer season, remember to have your vessel fully serviced before embarking on your journey. If you find yourself in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard."