40 people rescued after yacht runs aground in Co Galway

A total of 40 people have been rescued by the RNLI and Coast Guard from a 40-foot yacht that ran aground yesterday in Co Galway.

The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested to help passengers on the vessel, which ran into difficulty on a rocky shoal off Bonaveen Point in Lough Derg yesterday afternoon.

The alarm was raised by the Valentia Coast Guard.

A second boat from the Killaloe Coast Guard also assisted, due to the large number of people onboard.

RNLI volunteers were told all on board were safe, unharmed and wearing their lifejackets, once they landed on the yacht.

The decision was made to take the yacht off the shoal, and six passengers were moved to the Killaloe Coast Guard vessel.

Once in safe water, the lifeboat brought the casualty vessel alongside to release lines.

The Coast Guard returned to the scene and with the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat accompanied

The yacht was brought to the safety of Castle Harbour at Portumna town in Co Galway.

Peter Kennedy, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI commended both Lough Derg RNLI and Killaloe Coast Guard for their “swift response and excellent teamwork in effecting a challenging rescue in testing conditions”.

Source: RTE