This morning the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a Search & Rescue (SAR) training exercise at Donabate & Portrane shorelines. A number of scenario based exercise were undertaken over the varied terrain; from the long sandy Donabate beach, marshland of Malahide estuary and rocky shores of Portrane.
Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary search and rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard
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.
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
At 23:00 this evening the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) received several independent public reports of red flares sighted off the Fingal coast. The exact location of the flares was difficult to pinpoint, however it was believed they were fired on the coastline area between Rush and Malahide.
The Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate and immediately began a comprehensive shoreline search of the area. Several Skerries Coast Guard search teams were deployed and the area (including Loughshinny, Rush, Rogerstown Estuary, Portrane, Donabate and Malahide Estuary) were thoroughly searched. The Howth lifeboat was also tasked to the area and carried out a detailed at sea search with the assistance of a private vessel. Howth CGU were tasked to search south of Malahide.
No further flares were sighted or anything unusual noted. Conditions on scene were very good with clear visibility and only light SW winds. All search teams were stood down in the early hours of the morning and returned to base.
Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.
At 20:30 this evening the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to assist with the rescue of an injured male at Portrane, Co Dublin. The Coast Guard’s Rescue 116 Sikorsky helicopter was also scrambled from its nearby base at Dublin airport. Several units of Dublin Fire Brigade and HSE were also attending the incident on scene. The casualty appeared to have suffered injuries following a fall on the shoreline and required evacuation from the area.
Given the challenging landscape, the casualty was quickly evacuated using a highline winch transfer to the Coast Guard’s Rescue 116 helicopter.
Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save a life.