Volunteer Lifeboat midnight rescue of lost night divers - Ireland

[DandyDon]

Video: Volunteer Lifeboat Crew Saves Two Divers in Nighttime Rescue

On Tuesday night, a volunteer lifeboat crew out of Dun Laoghaire - a suburb of Dublin - responded to an Irish Coast Guard request to investigate reports of two missing divers in nearby Bullock Harbor. In a lucky rescue, they found both men quickly and pulled them safely aboard.

The three-person volunteer crew launched just after 2300 hours and made their way in the direction the harbor, arriving on scene at 2315. Conditions were calm, with good visibility, and the crew started to search the area around the outside of the harbor.

They quickly located the two casualties, who had been carrying out night diving training. The divers had been caught by fast-flowing currents, and they were exhausted from their attempt to make it back to shore.

The crew transferred the two divers on board and gave them a quick look-over for injuries. Both were in good condition, but very cold. They were transferred ashore in the harbor with the aid of the local coast guard unit, and then passed them on to emergency medical services.

"It has been Dun Laoghaire lifeboat station's busiest year to date, having been launched over 90 times with a dedicated crew turning up in numbers to every request. Tonight was no different and our crew’s speedy response was a major factor in ensuring the outcome of this situation was a positive," said Nathan Burke, the Dun Laoghaire lifeboat's helmsman. "The two divers and the other members of the group who were on shore did the right thing tonight by quickly contacting the Coast Guard when the two divers did not return to shore. The group also had the correct equipment for their training. Fortunately, both casualties are in good health."

 

[clownfishsydney]

Three divers were lost a few weeks ago off Sydney when they seem to have ascended from a 60 metre (200 foot) pinnacle called The Peak without going up the ascent line (assuming that was how they were to ascend) and drifting off away from their charter boat. Not sure how long he searched for them for before calling for help, but ended up Water Police, Police Airwing, Marine Rescue and more were activated. Found about an hour after he reported them missing, about 2 nm away. The Police helicopter spotted them. They had been to 80 metres (so a post by one said). This is site is 5 nm off the coast. Very, very lucky to have been found so quickly.

 

[Biotech Diver]

Three divers were lost a few weeks ago off Sydney when they seem to have ascended from a 60 metre (200 foot) pinnacle called The Peak without going up the ascent line (assuming that was how they were to ascend) and drifting off away from their charter boat. Not sure how long he searched for them for before calling for help, but ended up Water Police, Police Airwing, Marine Rescue and more were activated. Found about an hour after he reported them missing, about 2 nm away. The Police helicopter spotted them. They had been to 80 metres (so a post by one said). This is site is 5 nm off the coast. Very, very lucky to have been found so quickly.

Stories like this are why this will be one of my next purchases.
Nautilus Life-Line Marine Rescue GPS

 

[Jerome O'Neil]

I've gone swimming at "The 40 Foot" in Dun Laoghaire., which is at the north side of Bullock Harbour. That is some cold water but I'd be curious as to how they got lost there.

 

[DandyDon]

Stories like this are why this will be one of my next purchases.
Nautilus Life-Line Marine Rescue GPS

Have you considered carrying a PLB with a much greater signal reach? There are pros & cons to both. I know one diver who carries both.

That is some cold water but I'd be curious as to how they got lost there.

The news story quoted said "The divers had been caught by fast-flowing currents, and they were exhausted from their attempt to make it back to shore."

Three divers were lost a few weeks ago off Sydney when they seem to have ascended from a 60 metre (200 foot) pinnacle called The Peak without going up the ascent line (assuming that was how they were to ascend) and drifting off away from their charter boat. Not sure how long he searched for them for before calling for help, but ended up Water Police, Police Airwing, Marine Rescue and more were activated. Found about an hour after he reported them missing, about 2 nm away. The Police helicopter spotted them. They had been to 80 metres (so a post by one said). This is site is 5 nm off the coast. Very, very lucky to have been found so quickly.

Scary! Did anyone talk to them about PLBs? Any of them married?

 

[Biotech Diver]

Have you considered carrying a PLB with a much greater signal reach? There are pros & cons to both. I know one diver who carries both.


The news story quoted said "The divers had been caught by fast-flowing currents, and they were exhausted from their attempt to make it back to shore."


Scary! Did anyone talk to them about PLBs? Any of them married?

I’ll look into those too but the ones I saw were not meant for diving necessarily. I was very interested in the new Garmin but after reading it more closely it does not look like it would do well for very long submerged once you take it out of the separate underwater case you can buy for it. You’d have to keep holding it up out of the water while you are using it. That’s great if seas are perfectly calm but if not you might only be able to transmit a signal for a short time before it stopped working.

 

[DandyDon]

I’ll look into those too but the ones I saw were not meant for diving necessarily.

PLBs do have to be carried in a dive canister while diving, and the o-ring needs silicone grease now and then as well as replacement every year or two.

 

[Biotech Diver]

PLBs do have to be carried in a dive canister while diving, and the o-ring needs silicone grease now and then as well as replacement every year or two.

Couldn’t hurt to carry both.

 

[DandyDon]

Couldn’t hurt to carry both.

That's a personal call, more than I'll mess with, but up to you. Most divers don't bother with either. I'm amazed that some boats go to sea without a PLB or similar.

 

[chillyinCanada]

That's a personal call, more than I'll mess with, but up to you. Most divers don't bother with either. I'm amazed that some boats go to sea without a PLB or similar.

Send him to the thread, DandyDon.