Five teenagers rescue man clinging to bouy

The volunteers of Crosshaven lifeboat were tasked this evening to a report of a person in the water in the Ringabella/Fountainstown area.
The crew received the pager alert at 7.32 pm and were enroute when information was received that 2 persons were
in the water and clinging to a marker bouy near the back strand at Fountainstown.

On arrival, one adult had been taken from the water by a RIB which responded to the Coast Guard PAN PAN radio call and was
handing the casualty into the care of Crosshaven Coast Guard at Fountainstown beach. The younger casualty had made their own
way ashore and was being cared for by the Coast Guard. Rescue 117 helicopter transported the two casualties to Cork University Hospital for a check up.

Crew on tonights service were Helm Ian Venner with Aoife Dinan, Susanne Deane and Jon Bermingham. Launch crew was Gary Heslin and Richie Leonard.

The RIB which responded was crewed by five 16 year olds who were fishing in White Bay when they heard the PAN PAN call and responded immediately to the incident. Coincidentally, three of the RIB crew have RNLI connections. Jamie Venner is the son of Ian Venner who was also the Helm on tonights service, Cillian Foster is a brother to Caomhe Foster who is also Crosshaven RNLI crew and Richard McSweeney is the son of former Baltimore RNLI crew member Ciaran McSweeney. The other crew on board were Kate Horgan and Harry Pritchard.

Crosshaven RNLI commends the five youngsters for acting so  professionally and swiftly in rescuing the casualty in need. Our future is safe in their hands.