22/05/2005
Baltimore Lifeboat rescues four kayakers
The Baltimore Lifeboat was launched at 14:37 on Sunday 22
May 2005 following a 999 call reporting a craft in distress
400 metres west of the Kedge Island. The lifeboat crew responded
speedily to the alert and “Hilda Jarret” the Tyne
class all-weather lifeboat was launched at 14:40 with a crew
of 8 on board.
They proceeded toward the Kedge, a small Island
east of Baltimore Harbour, in a Force 6 SW wind and a one-metre
swell. The “Asgard II” stood by approximately
2 miles off the Kedge while the search and rescue operation
was taking place, assisting with communications between the
Coastguard and the lifeboat while the lifeboat was under the
cliffs.
After a brief search the lifeboat located
4 kayakers who had landed at a cove, beneath high cliffs,
east of Spain Tower. The lifeboat launched an inflatable dinghy
to rescue the stranded kayakers from the cove with a crew
of two on board, brothers Brendan & Micheál Cottrell.
All four kayakers and 3 of their craft were
secured by the dinghy and returned to the Lifeboat.
Having rescued all casualties, the lifeboat
continued searching for the fourth kayak which was found drifting
2 miles east of the Kedge at 15:44. Although cold and tired
the survivors did not sustain any serious injury. All survivors
and craft were landed at Baltimore Pier at 16:15 and the Lifeboat
returned to station at 16:28.
The five kayakers, Reg Murphy, Joe Cotter,
Gerry Walsh, Gill Roche and Dave Roche, had left Baltimore
Harbour earlier that day intending to paddle to Barlogue Creek
at the entrance to Lough Hyne, Skibbereen 4 miles east of
Baltimore. One of the party capsized twice, lost his craft
and was left exposed to the elements for approximately two
hours. Three of the party rafted together and took the distressed
party across their kayaks and made their way toward a suitable
landing point beneath high cliffs. They sheltered here and
waited for help to arrive. Another of the party had already
gone for help, landing at Trafaska Cove to raise the alarm
by mobile phone.
The crew on board the lifeboat were, Coxswain
Kieran Cotter, crew members, brothers Cathal (mechanic), Micheál
and Brendan Cottrell, Jerry Smith, Ronnie Carthy, Don O’Donovan
and Eoin Ryan.
Slip crew were Rianne Smith, Paul O’Driscoll,
Kate Callanan, Gerard Sheehy, Revelin Minihan and Jo Lorriman.
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