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Eleven people saved by Swilly
lifeboat
23.01.08
THE Lough Swilly RNLI
crew launched 28 times last year and rescued a total
of 11 people, new figures show.
The station was also the first in the country to get
the new and more powerful Atlantic 85 inshore boat.
The figures were announced ahead of the RNLI's
fundraising drive 'SOS Day' that takes place around
the country on Friday.
RNLI divisional inspector for Ireland, Colin
Williams said: “Once again Irish lifeboat crews have
had a very demanding year, having assisted so many
people in trouble. |
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"Our voluntary lifeboat
crews are extremely dedicated to training and making
themselves available to launch the lifeboats within
minutes. It is these volunteers and our
extraordinary fundraisers who make it possible to
provide this vital lifesaving service."
The table shows that the 43 |
RNLI crews around the
country launched a total of 922 times last year,
rescuing 1,119 people.
The busiest were Arranmore RNLI, who launched 51
times and rescued 55 people. The Donegal-based
lifeboat also launched last Saturday to go to the
assistance of a trawler with a fire onboard, 60
miles offshore.
The call-out statistics for 2007 show that again,
the most common reason for lifeboat launches is to
assist pleasure craft users who accounted for 242 of
the year's launches. Ten call outs were to rescue
animals in trouble. "This work ensures that animal
owners are not tempted to try and rescue the animals
themselves, which can often result in loss of life,"
said Mr. Williams.
The hardworking charity is calling on members of the
public to respond to its own ‘SOS call’ by
supporting them this Friday, January 25. To take
part in RNLI SOS day please visit
www.rnli.ie/sos
or call 1800 789 589. |
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