The Courtmacsherry All Weather RNLI Lifeboat was called out at 6.40pm on Monday evening to go to the immediate aid of a 22 ft speedboat that got into difficulties and was taking in water off the Inner Barrell Rocks near the Old Head of Kinsale. Launched in under 6 minutes the Lifeboat, under Coxswain Sean O'Farrell and a crew of 6, proceeded at top speed to reach the casualty as quick as possible. The stricken speedboat with a crew of five were located in under 15 minutes and all five were taken from the boat as it was in danger of sinking.
With all five rescued in the safe surrounds of the Lifeboat, the Lifeboat crew were tasked with making the speedboat safe by pumping out the water on board and commence the tow back to Courtmacsherry Pier.
All arrived back to Courtmacsherry at 8.30 pm.
Speaking on the Pier, the Lifeboat Voluntary Operations Manager Brian O'Dwyer was delighted that the rescue was carried out swiftly with precision by the Lifeboat Crew and averted what could have been a serious incident because of the danger that the speedboat would have sunk in conditions that were gusty with poor visibility.
Lifeboat Crew on the Callout were Coxswain Sean O'Farrell, Mechanic Gearoid O'Donovan and Crew Mark Gannon, Dave Philips, Kevin Young, Dean Hennessy and the Station's newest and youngest crewman, 17 year old Evan O'Sullivan.