ON PATROL…RNLI answered emergency call from couple.
Enniskillen RNLI have rescued two people on Sunday evening after their kayak capsized at the mouth of the Colebrook River.
The volunteer lifeboat crew based on Upper Lough Erne at Carrybridge, were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch both their inshore lifeboat and Rescue Water Craft (RWC) at around 6pm on Sunday.
The man and woman who came off the kayak had managed to swim ashore, raise the alarm using their mobile phone and let the Coastguard know they were on an island.
The inshore lifeboat helmed by Chris Cathcart launched immediately along with the RWC.
Weather conditions at the time were described as good with light airs and good visibility.
Following a search, the lifeboat crew located the casualties on the northern side of Inishcorkish Island. They were both cold and the woman was shaking and showing signs of hypothermia.
The crew immediately transferred both people to the lifeboat and began to administer casualty care. They were then brought to the shore at Knockninny Marina where they were medically assessed and made comfortable.
The RWC then recovered the kayak back to Knockninny Marina.
Speaking following the call out, Enniskillen RNLI Helm Chris Cathcart said: ‘The water was cold and the casualties had been in the lough for about 15 minutes during their swim to the island.
“They had prepared for their trip by carrying a mobile phone in a waterproof bullet and thankfully they were able to raise the alarm, calling 999 using their mobile phone.”
“They were able to swim to an island at the mouth of the Colebrooke River. The weather had started to chill for the night and the water temperature was cold. When we arrived about nine minutes after the call they were both showing signs of hypothermia, especially the female,” he said.
“We made the decision to get them on the lifeboat and carry out casualty care on them both. We brought them back to Knockninny while the other rescue craft brought their kayak back.”
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