At 2145 Howth CG was tasked by MRCC Dublin following a report of a RIB hitting the South Rowan buoy. As a result of the collision two of the crew were thrown into the water and the boat seemed to be adrift. A member of the team was sent to assess the situation and determine if the helicopter or lifeboat were needed. On arrival at the scene at 2155 the situation was under control. The third crewman had managed to pull the other two into the boat and they were returning to the harbour. The Coast Guard volunteer met the boat on its return to determine what had happened and that everyone was ok. Poor visibility was blamed for the collision. Both of the crewmen who fell in were shaken and cold but otherwise uninjured. They were both wearing self inflating life jackets, one of which failed to inflate on contact with the water.
The incident goes to show just how careful one should be when driving fast boats and the importance of wearing life jackets. It is also demonstrates that these lifejackets should be professionally checked every two years. What, in the end, was a scary incident could very easily have been a double drowning tragedy.
Incident 20/07
