Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew rescued two fisherman from the River Shannon in Athlone on Saturday afternoon after they had got into difficulties on the river.
The alarm was raised by a member of the public after the boat the two men were on began taking on water just south of the Weir Wall in the town.
Lough Ree RNLI inland lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ under volunteer helm Liam Sheringham launched at 5.20 pm and reached the fishing boat in fifteen minutes.
Following a rapid survey of the scene the lifeboat drew alongside the stricken fishing boat and volunteer crew Patrick Walsh, Paul Kelly and Billy Henshaw Jnr rescued the two young men and took them on board the lifeboat. There were no injuries reported.
Lough Ree RNLI volunteer helm Liam Sheringham thanked An Garda Síochána for their assistance in the rescue and reminded the general public that “the circular motion created in the water over the Weir Wall, especially when the river is in spate or flood, creates a very difficult and dangerous environment for people and craft in the vicinity”.
Earlier on Saturday, Lough Ree RNLI had joined with Athlone Sub Aqua Club and Athlone River Safety Awareness just upstream of the weir wall to demonstrate emergency response procedures to the public.
This was the second call-out of the year for Lough Ree RNLI, as earlier this month (March 3rd), the charity assisted two people on board a lake cruiser which had run aground after losing steerage near the N6 motorway bridge.
