Tag Archives: Rescue 116

Coast Guard Helicopter visit to Donabate school

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This morning, members of the Skerries Coast Guard team were out at the Portrane/Donabate peninsula for a landing of the Coast Guard’s Dublin based Sikorsky S92 helicopter (Rescue 116). The helicopter landing was eagerly awaited by a large crowd of 450 primary pupils of Donabate’s Scoil Phadraic Cailini.

Donabate heli Skerries CGU

The Skerries team prepared the landing site for the helicopter at Donabate’s St Pats GAA Club. Orange smoke flares were deployed to assist with wind speed/direction indication for the helicopter crew. After a couple of circuits, the helicopter landed down safely at Donabate shortly after 09:30. Once shutdown was complete, each class of pupils along with their teacher were provided with an enjoyable and informative tour of the impressive Coast Gaurd helicopter by a member of the flight crew. Included in these talks was also important advice on water safety, particularly vital as we approach the summer holidays.

After almost 1.5 hours on scene at Donabate, the visit concluded and the Coast Guard helicopter departed back to its nearby base at Dublin Airport. Skerries Coast Guard would like to sincerely thank the Principal of the school at Donabate, Margaret O’Neill, for her assistance in organising this Coast Guard visit to the school.

This helicopter visit is one of the many water safety awareness talks and events organised by Skerries Coast Guard each year with local schools in our operational area from Laytown to Malahide.  For more information on these water safety visits, take a look at our Water Safety page.

More photos of the visit will shortly be available in our online gallery.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard

Kitesurfer in difficulty – 24th May 2014

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Rescue 116

Shortly before 18:00 this evening, the Coast Guard’s Maritime Coordination Centre received public reports of a kitesurfer in difficulty near Shenick Island, Skerries. The concerned 999 callers reported to the Coast Guard that while the kitesurfer was close to shore, they appeared to have difficulty with their equipment.

The Skerries Coast Guard team were paged to the scene and the Coast Guard’s Rescue 116 helicopter was scrambled from its nearby base at Dublin Airport. The Skerries lifeboat was also requested to assist. The Skerries Coast Guard team arrived on scene within minutes and quickly located the stricken kitesurfer, who was wading slowly towards shore, assisted by two other kitesurfers.

The Skerries Coast Guard team assisted the casualty from the water and established that they were uninjured. No further assistance was required and Dublin Coast Guard stood down all rescue assets. The Skerries Coast Guard team assisted the kitesurfer recover all their equipment back up the beach.

The kitesurfer had earlier suffered a problem with their kite safety line while close to the South Strand beach and sensibly ceased surfing and began making their way ashore when the alarm was raised.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty dial 999 or 112 an ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Training with Coast Guard helicopter – 22 March 2014

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This morning the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in a training exercise with the Dublin based Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116. Shortly before 10am, the Skerries Coast Guard team prepared and secured the landing site at the Red Island headland, Skerries. The Skerries team were joined for this exercise by the crew of their neighbouring station of Clogherhead Coast Guard.

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The Coast Guard helicopter was landing at Red Island to provide a training briefing to the crew of the local Skerries RNLI.

The landing also provided an opportunity to the local public to see the impressive helicopter up close and find out more about the vital service the crew provides. Once again, the Coast Guard would like to thank the public at the landing site who readily followed the safety advice from the Coast Guard personnel securing the site during the helicopter’s landing and take off.

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Skerries Coast Guard, Clogherhead Coast Guard and Skerries RNLI

A selection of photos from this exercise are available on our online gallery.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary local rescue Unit of the Irish Coast Guard.

Report of distress flares off Rush – 20th January 2014

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Shortly after darkness this evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate a report of possible distress flares off the Rush coast, three miles south of Skerries. The Coast Guard’s National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) had received a report from a vigilant member of the public who had sighted two parachute flares deployed off the Rush coast.

The Skerries Coast Guard team arrived on scene within minutes and immediately began to carry out a detailed search of the coastline. The Coast Guard’s helicopter based at Dublin, Rescue 116 was also tasked and carried out an extensive search of the sea area. Nothing further was spotted and with the area thoroughly searched no further action was required.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, even if you only think they may be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Do not assume someone else has made the call.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary coastal rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard.