A FAMILY of four and their two dogs were rescued by the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat after their speedboat suffered engine failure on Tuesday evening.
At 7.05pm the lifeboat Jean Spier launched following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to help the family on a 12ft speedboat adrift in open water south of Garrykennedy.
The lifeboat, with helm crew Owen Cavanagh, crew Steve Smyth, Chris Parker and Tom Hayes on board, arrived on scene at 7.15pm. The family and dogs were safe and unharmed. Given their proximity to Garrykennedy Harbour, the closest safe harbour, and the hour, the helm decided that the safest option was to set up an astern tow and take the vessel with her passengers and an RNLI volunteer on board, to Garrykennedy, where the boat was tied alongside at 7.45pm.
At 7.50pm lifeboat departed the scene and was back at Station at 8.05pm. Jeremy Freeman, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI, advises water users to “ensure your boat equipment and engine are in good working order and always carry a means of communication.”