Two paddleboarders rescued from water in Tramore

Tramore RNLI’s volunteer crew came to the assistance of two paddleboarders on Monday evening after they encountered difficulty in an offshore wind.

The lifeboat was already afloat on a training exercise on the far side of Tramore Bay when the crew was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard at 7.55pm.

Helmed by Fergal McGrath, with crew members Nóirín Phelan, Ward Griffin and Will Palmer onboard, the lifeboat made its way across the bay and located the two paddleboarders in a bay west of Great Newtown Head.

The pair had been unable to make any headway against a strong north-easterly wind.

They used a mobile phone carried in a waterproof pouch to call for help. Both were wearing lifejackets and were seeking shelter from the wind, rather than continuing to paddle.

Having assessed the situation, the RNLI crew brought the two paddleboarders and their boards safely aboard the lifeboat.

Both paddleboarders were tired but otherwise in good health.

Speaking following the call out, Tramore RNLI Helm Fergal McGrath said: 'The paddleboarders made the right decision when they realised they couldn’t make progress against the wind. Conditions were challenging at the time. They sought shelter and called for help before they became cold and exhausted.

'We would encourage anyone going afloat to check the weather and wind direction, wear a suitable lifejacket or buoyancy aid and carry a means of calling for help in a waterproof pouch. If you see somebody in difficulty or get into difficulty yourself, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.'