Volunteers with the Bunbeg Coast Guard were in action for almost 12 hours yesterday following an unprecedented number of emergency calls.
The crew was called to five separate incidents during an extremely busy day on the west coast.
Thankfully, tragedy was avoided in all incidents.
Pagers were activated for the first time on Saturday morning shortly after 11am. The boat and shore team were tasked by the Malin Head Coordination Centre following reports made of an overdue kayaker in the Rosbeg/Portnoo area.
The Rescue 118 helicopter, Arranmore RNLI and Killybegs Coast Guard Unit were also tasked to the scene.
The missing kayaker was located by Arranmore RNLI just off Dawross Head following a brief search and all search and rescue teams were stood down.
Whilst on route back to base, the Bunbeg Coast Guard boat team came across a small vessel in difficulty and attempting to drop anchor. The rescue team provided assistance before returning to base.
The team was then tasked for the third time shortly before 3pm, this time to a vessel aground on Bunbeg Channel. The boat launched and was on the scene within minutes providing assistance to those onboard. The vessel was then secured and the crew transported back to Bunbeg Harbour to await high tide.
Pagers were activated again shortly before 5pm when the shore team were tasked alongside the Sligo-based coast guard helicopter to reports of three people cut off by the tide at Gweebara Bay.
The R118 chopper arrived overhead, located the three people and stood by until they safely made it back to shore.
The fifth and final tasking for Bunbeg volunteers was just before 10pm last night.
The boat team was tasked by Malin Head to reports of a kayaker in difficulty in the Gweedore Bay Area. The Rescue 118 was also in action overhead.
The Bunbeg CG team arrived on the scene minutes later to find debris shaped like a kayak in the water. The debris was recovered from the water and the team returned to base.
Following an extremely busy day, a spokesperson for the Bunbeg CG team reminded people to always be vigilant at the coast: “Please remember, if you see someone in trouble on the water or along the coast, or think they might be; Dial 999/112 or use VHF CH 16 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
