Following calls this afternoon (Thursday) to the Coast Guard by
members of the public Howth Coast Guard and Howth Lifeboat were tasked
to a report of a body in the water in Howth Harbour off the East Pier.
The Lifeboat was launched within a couple of minutes and recovered the
body to the lifeboat station. Sadly the person was deceased.

Incident 02/2012

WEST PIER, HOWTH - Howth Coast Guard Unit were tasked at approx. 1515hrs by the National Marine Operations Centre (NMOC) today to respond to a report from a member of the public that a car had entered the water off the West Pier in Howth today. Howth Coast Guard, Howth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, Gardai, Gardai Water Unit, and Dublin Fire Brigade responded. Howth Lifeboat located the car and Garda divers brought the single occupant to the surface before transferring in the Lifeboat to Irish Coast Guard and Dublin Fire Brigade personnel on the West Pier and handed over to Dublin Fire Brigade Paramedics. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter at Dublin was put on stand-by.

The Minister also spoke with the volunteers and thanked them and their families for their commitment to the service.

Following refreshments and interviews with the media he continued on to meet the Rnli lifeboat crew. Minister Varadkar's portfolio of Transport, Tourism and Sport includes responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard.

On Wednesday 28^th December at 5pm concerned members of the public alerted the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC), a Kayaker was seen off Dollymount and appeared to be in difficulty. Conditions were dark with  an off shore wind.

The Coast Guard mobilised resources by sea, air and land with Dun Laoghaire RNLI, Coast Guard Helicopter and Howth Coast Guard responding. Eventually the kayaker made his own way back to shore and required no further assistance. Team returned to station.

Incident 51/11

Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.

Members from the unit are currently on placement experience within the Accident and Emergency Department at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital. 

On a 12 hour day/night shift the members will observe in a number of areas within the hospital; at the triage area they are given the opportunity to observe and assist with patient assessment under the supervision of medical staff from the hospital. They are also involved with the crash team in the Resuscitation area, this is where unconscious patients arriving by ambulance are admitted; this allows the members to get hands on experience in a high pressure environment where medics are often faced with having to resuscitate a patient who is admitted suffering cardiac arrest.

The experience gained is of huge benefit when dealing with medical related incidents especially where there is limited medical assistance available. Again a big thanks to the co-operation of the management and staff of Beaumont Hospital. 

A very Happy Christmas to all including our colleagues around the
country in the voluntary and full time emergency services, hopefully a
quiet peaceful time for all.

A very special thanks to all our families and partners who through the
year put up with us deserting them at all hours. When we run out the
door on the sound of a pager beeping they pick up the pieces; they
look after little screaming people, cancel plans for an evening out,
put away freshly cooked mince pies, look out at a garden hedge half
cut, try to get back to sleep, trek home by themselves from the
cinema.

Unaware of what time we'll return they are still there with their
warmth, love and understanding. They are the backbone of the Irish
Coast Guard, a service that could not be provided without their
support. Nollaig Shona.

Confused by the unusual morning sunshine Santa crash landed this
morning at the Bailey lighthouse on Howth Head. With his sleigh out of
action for repairs Howth Coast Guard offered assistance with
transportation for his visit to deliver presents to all kids at the
Children's University Hospital, Temple Street.

Unfamiliar with an indoor mode of transport Santa wasn't happy with
sitting in a jeep. A quick thinking Rudolf the red nose reindeer
spotted a Coast Guard bicycle and Santa thought it was a marvellous
idea. So with an escort from the Garda traffic unit and all his
presents in a Coast Guard van Santa began his cycle into the city. An
alert news crew from 98fm were already racing to the hospital to scoop
the story.

A relieved Santa arrived in style and visited children from all the
wards around the hospital. A multi talented band of helpers comprising
of members from the team and staff from the hospital led Santa in song
around the wards. The kids were delighted to meet Santa on his trial
run for the big day. Santa travelled back to Howth, his sleigh was
fixed, his reindeers fed and he returned to the north pole to finish
off his final preparations.

Thanks to all who made this happen especially to the staff and
management of Canada Life who sponsored and organised all the
presents. Nollaig Shona.

At 08.56 this morning Howth Coast Guard were requested by the Coast Guard NMOC(National Maritime Operations Centre) to launch their RiB to assist Malahide Gardai. They were investigating a report of a missing person and had found what looked to be a body on the North shore of Malahide Estuary.

A small team of volunteers went to the station and launched the boat while a ground unit went to Malahide to meet the Gardai on scene. After the boat and team arrived it was discovered that the object on the beach turned out to be bags of rubbish left out for collection.

After discussions with the Gardai the team were then tasked to continue to search the area. The boat searched the water including the marina while the ground team searched the shore from Malahide to Portmarnock. As the ground team neared the Martello tower at Portmarnock a member of the public came to them and said that there was a person on the rocks ahead who appeared to have fallen from the road. All the units including the boat closed on the scene. An ambulance had been requested and was en route. The team located the casualty and gave first aid. Dublin Fire Brigade arrived and gave further first aid while the CG team prepared the casualty for transport to the road level. It appeared that the casualty had been there since 00.30 this morning. The casualty was secured and packaged and then brought up to the awaiting ambulance for transport to hospital. The team stood down at 12.10

The casualty was the missing person being sought by the Gardai.

Incident 50/2011

At 11pm last night (Thurs 24th) Howth Coast Guard and Howth Lifeboat
were tasked to the area of High Rock on the coastline between Malahide
and Portmarnock. A number of people had contacted Gardai to report
what appeared to be a body in the water.

Eighteen Coast Guard members along with Gardai from Malahide conducted
a search along the coastline while the RNLI inshore boat team searched
the water; a number of parachute illumination flares were set off from
the lifeboat and from land to provide light to the area. At 1am after
a search off the coastline and the water the Coast Guard’s national
Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) stood all assets down.

Incident 49/11