A female kayaker who capsized into the water was rescued by volunteers with the Bundoran RNLI yesterday evening.
The woman got into difficulty between Rossnowlagh and Creevy Pier at approximately 8pm on Thursday.
The volunteer lifeboat crew helmed by Michael Patton and with three crew members onboard launched immediately after getting the report and made their way to the scene. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 from Sligo was also tasked.
Bundoran RNLI
Once on scene, the lifeboat crew found that the casualty had been taken from the water by a group of four to five other kayakers, who had placed her back on her kayak and were supporting her as they awaited the arrival of the lifeboat.
The crew took the casualty onboard the lifeboat and assessed her. While she was not in immediate danger, she had taken on some water and an ambulance was requested by the lifeboat crew as a precautionary measure.
She was transferred to hospital after being brought into Creevy Pier.
Speaking following the call out, Bundoran RNLI Helm Michael Patton said: ‘We would like to wish the kayaker a speedy recovery and commend her fellow kayakers for raising the alarm and taking her out of the water and looking after her until we arrived. We would also like to thank our colleagues in the Irish Coast Guard and the ambulance service for their rapid response and attention to the casualty on scene.’
Meanwhile, the RNLI today launched its 2018 national drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water.
The campaign is now in its fifth year and the charity is urging anyone who finds themselves in trouble in cold water to follow the FLOAT message and stay calm and ‘float’ on your back for a short time to regain control of your breathing.
