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Tag Archives: sea

Rescue services advise against water activities

In advance of the May bank holiday weekend the Irish Coast Guard and RNLI are appealing to the public not to take part in any water-based activity on or in the sea, while the Covid-19 restrictions are in place. Both organisations are concerned that as the restrictions continue, people may become complacent and be tempted to take to the water or proceed to coastal areas for recreation. However, it is crucial to continue to minimise the risk to Search and Rescue, volunteer crews, helicopter crew and other front-line emergency services, from being unintentionally exposed to Covid-19. RNLI and Coast Guard Search and Rescue services continue to be fully operational and on call 24/7. As the current COVID-19 restrictions continue to apply it is appreciated that people will want to get out for a break and take to the water if they are living or exercising near the coast or inland waters. However, both organisations are urging everyone to follow Government …

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Stay clear of the sea warning

  THE Irish Coast Guard and RNLI have cautioned that water-based activity on or in the sea should not take place while the current emergency restrictions are in place. Both organisations are highlighting the importance of minimising the risk to Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteer crews, Helicopter crew and other front-line emergency services, through being unintentionally exposed to COVID-19. RNLI and Coast Guard search and rescue services are fully operational but both organisations are urging everyone to follow Government instructions, which are clear – “stay home, protect frontline services and save lives”. While you are allowed out for daily exercise, we do not recommend that this exercise is on, or in the sea and all travel restrictions must be observed. SAR services, including RNLI lifeboat service, Coast Guard helicopter services and Coast Guard units, are still available but every callout has the potential to put additional pressure on SAR services and other front-line emergency services as well as potentially exposing …

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Coast Guard safety message

The Coast Guard is requesting members of the public planning on engaging in any coastal activities over the Christmas period to first check that it is safe to do so and to be mindful of the risks and life threatening dangers that can arise without warning. Many people will be engaging in outdoor activities along the coastline, be it on exposed coasts, cliffs, piers, harbour walls, beaches, promenades or other coastal areas. The simple safety message from the Coast Guard is, “Stay back, stay high, stay dry. Storm Barbara, which will give rise to stormy conditions, is forecasted to blow through today (Friday) and there is a risk of some stormy weather returning on Christmas Day. A general improvement in weather conditions conducive to outdoor activities, is forecast from St Stephen’s Day. Spring tides that generate higher tides, peak in the latter part of the week and pose an additional risk. Christmas Day swims are a popular pursuit and the …

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Body recovered at Cliffs of Moher

A post mortem is due to be carried out today on the body of a woman taken from the sea near the Cliffs of Moher yesterday evening. Emergency services were alerted at around 5pm when walkers on the cliff trail spotted the body in the water near O’Brien’s Tower. The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard launched their rescue boat and made their way to the scene and made a successful recovery at around 6.15pm. The woman’s remains were brought back to their boathouse in Doolin and later removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick where a post mortem examination is expected to be carried out later today.

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Search still continues for missing Japanese tourist

THE search continues for a missing Japanese tourist eight months after the body of her travelling companion was recovered from the waters off Kilkee. An inquest into the death last August of 63-year-old Eiji Takagi at Clare’s Coroner’s Court this week heard that the search is ongoing for fellow tourist Ushio Azaki, who also went missing. The remains of Mr Takagi, who had a Californian address, were recovered in Kilkee bay in water about 27m deep on August 30 of last year, following an extensive search of the area. The inquest was told that the pair were last seen alive when they checked out of The Bellbridge House Hotel and were due to visit Kilkee. Concern was raised when their hire car was seen parked at George’s Head for a number of days and a search operation was launched. Along with search and rescue teams from Lough Derg, Ennis and Aughinish, local coast guard units from Kilkee, Doolin and Ballybunion …

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Body recovered in search for missing student

The search for missing Ennis law student, Michael Bugler has been called off after a body was recovered from the sea near Ardfry Point in Oranmore this afternoon. Gardaí say an unidentified body was spotted about 20 metres from shore by a search party looking for the missing man. Twenty year old Michael Bugler, an NUI Galway student, had not been seen since Friday, December 18 in the Quay Street area of the city. Since his disappearance, gardaí and hundreds of people have been engaged in daily searches in the Galway area for the missing student. In a post of Facebook later that evening, Michael sister Laura said the family are “relieved to finally have Michael home”. She added, “On behalf of myself, my family and Michael’s friends I’d like to thank you all for your help and support over the last three weeks. Thankfully we are so relieved to finally have Michael home today”.

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Body recovered from cliffs

A post mortem is due to be carried out today on a body of a man recovered from the base of the Cliffs of Moher. While the body has not been formally identified its believed to be that of a man from Dublin who was seen falling into the sea at the Cliffs of Moher on Monday evening. Gardaí and the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard were alerted, however, the body was too close to the shore at the base of the cliffs to be safely recovered. Coast Guard volunteers returned to the area on Tuesday and recovered the body from  the water in late afternon. The remains were brought to the Doolin Coast Guard Station before being removal to University Hospital Limerick for a postmortem examination.

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Peninsula in Mourning

CARRIGAHOLT village came to a standstill on Wednesday afternoon for the funeral of Bernie Mahoney, Moveen, who died in a drowning accident on Sunday morning in Poulnasherry Bay. As he was brought to St Mary’s Church in the West Clare fishing village, Mr Mahoney was flanked by a guard of honour from O’Curry’s GAA Club, whom he represented for many years. In his late 30s, Mr Mahoney, a father of three, whose youngest child was due to be baptised last Sunday, was one of four people, including his brother, oyster collecting when tragedy struck. His three friends were rescued by brothers, Roger and Stephen Little, who live in Carnacalla, Kilrush. The brothers, who are experienced boats people, were alerted when their dogs barked incessantly at hearing calls for help, close to 3am on Sunday. “It was just pure luck. We came home at the right time,” Roger Little, who works as a tug boat captain for Dublin Port, explained. “I …

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