Tag Archives: Shenick Island

Kitesurfer in difficulty – 24th May 2014

Posted on by

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.

Report of persons in difficulty – 24th June 2013

Posted on by

jeep-and-shenick-island2

Shortly before 21:00 this evening the Skerries Coast Guard Unit were tasked to investigate a report of persons in difficulty in the water between Shenick Island and the mainland at Skerries. A concerned member of the public had spotted a group of youths in the deep water, making their way in to the shore from Skenick Island.

The Coast Guard team investigated and quickly located the group who had reached the South Strand shoreline. All were ok and not in need of assistance. However, the Coast Guard spotted a small group huddled together on another offshore Island, Colt Island. The Skerries lifeboat was requested to check on this group and all was ok, they were kayakers taking a break on the Island.

No further action was required and the Coast Guard team returned to base.

With the Summer Solstice Spring Tides occuring over the next few days, the low tides in the Skerries area will be unusually low. While Shenick Island may appear inviting for a walk across, the public should be mindful that the tide floods very quickly in the area and they run the risk of being stranded.

Incident # 11 of 2013

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

Skerries Coast Guard featured on RTE’s Nationwide – 24th April 2013

Posted on by

This evening, RTE’s popular Nationwide featured the recent Skerries Community fundraising “Walk to Shenick” which took place on the 7th April. This walk was organised by local volunteers to raise funds for a memorial at Skerries harbour to those lost at sea.

The Nationwide programme showed the many hundreds of local peolpe who turned out to support the walk, completing the round trip to the island. The programme also featured members of the Skerries Coast Guard team who were on duty at the walk, including a brief interview with the team’s Officer in Charge Vanessa Gaffney. The Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116, also provided some aerial footage for the programme.

Skerries Coast Guard RTE nationwide April 2013

The episode of Nationwide can be viewed for a limited time on RTE’s Player.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue team of the Irish Coast Guard.

Photos from Community walk, Skerries 7th April 2013

Posted on by

Shenick walk

Skerries Coast Guard were present this afternoon at the Community walk to Shenick Island, Skerries. This walk was organised by local volunteers to raise funds for a memorial to those lost at sea.
The Coast Guard helicopter was passing through the area and performed a flyover for the crowd. The event was very well supported by the local community with well over 1,000 people turning out despite the cold winds.

Photos of the event are available in our online photo gallery.

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

IMG_0509