RNLI tasked to false alarm off County Waterford beach

The volunteer lifeboat crew with Tramore RNLI were tasked to a call relating to an incident off a County Waterford beach.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 23, when Tramore RNLI received a report that a person was in difficulty off Kilfarrasay Beach.

The volunteer lifeboat crew responded to their pagers going off at 11am after a report was made from a member of the public who heard someone shouting for help from the water.

The lifeboat, helmed by Dave McGrath, with crew members Nóirín Phelan and Will Palmer onboard, was launched within minutes with support from the organisation's shore crew.  However, shortly afterwards the crew was stood down as it transpired the call was a false alarm, albeit with good intent.

Speaking following the call out, Brian Kavanagh, Tramore RNLI Launching Authority. said: "This call out turned out to be a false alarm with good intent but we would commend the person who raised the alarm, reporting what they perceived as someone in difficulty."

"It is always better to be safe than sorry, safety is always our priority," said Brian.

"If you do get into difficulty or see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

The RNLI also advises people planning a trip or activity at sea to enjoy themselves but go prepared. Always check weather and tides before venturing out and always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device for your activity. 

It's also very important to let someone on the shore know where you are going and when you are due back and carry a means of communication.