The Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard responded this afternoon to assist seven people on a boat that suffered engine problems on Lough Derg.
The volunteer team had been at Holy Island along with Lough Derg RNLI and Clare Civil Defence providing medical and safety boat cover for the funeral of the late novelist and playwright Edna O’ Brien.
While returning from that duty, the Killaloe team was flagged down by the skipper of a 30ft cruiser close to Deer Rock off the eastern shore of the lake. The Killaloe rescue boat team made their way to assist the vessel which was found have engine problems.
It’s understood that while the vessel’s engine was working it wasn’t delivering power to the boat’s propellor. There were four adults and three children on board the boat and all were wearing their lifejackets.
Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia island in Kerry were notified of the incident.
The casualty vessel was taken on tow to Killaloe where Coast Guard shore team members were on hand to assist with the safe mooring of the vessel.
