merrion street

The Coast Guard Rescue coordination centre in Dublin last night coordinated the successful rescue of a lone yachtsman who was discovered on his overturned yacht 20 miles off the Co Wexford coast.

The yachtsman triggered his Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) at approximately 8pm last night which alerted the Marine Rescue Centre (MRCC) in Dublin of his position. The Waterford Coast Guard helicopter (R117) was immediately tasked to the position. The lone yachtsman was spotted sitting on the hull of his upturned vessel and was winched to safety by the Coast Guard helicopter and transferred to Waterford Regional hospital.

A Coast Guard spokesman highlighted the importance of observing two important safety rules when going to sea; a capacity to stay afloat if you do fall in the water and a capacity to communicate or raise the alert. This latest incident confirms the importance of these two basic approaches.