A Major Emergency Plan swung into action at around midday today (24/07/13) at Oysterhaveen, Kinsale off the Cork Coast, after a 42 metre vessel hit rocks and began taking water.
Shortly before midday, Four RNLI Lifeboats were launched and two Coast Guard helicopters were mobilised to the scene.
There were 30 people on board the Dutch training vessel, the Astrid. 18 crew members were rescued by the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat. The remaining 12 were put onto a liferaft deployed by the Astrid’s crew, which was picked up by a local vessel after being towed to safety by the Kinsale Lifeboat.
The RNLI have said there was a two meter swell and winds were force five to six at the time.
Lifeboats from Kinsale, Courtmacsherry, Ballycotton and Crosshaven took part in the emergency operation, while Irish Coast Guard helicopters from Waterford and Shannon also took part.
Following the successful rescue operation, Courtmacsherry’s RNLI Coxswain Sean O’ Farrell said “Everyone was very fortunate. I want to praise the quick tinking of the skipper and the crew from the Astrid. They kept calm and dis everything we asked them to. We were able to get them too safety quickly and a major tragedy was averted. To be able to recover 30 people was a great day for everyone involved. It was a great team effort between the RNLI Lifeboats and all the vessels that came to their aid”.
