Fisherman rescued after boat engine fails off Bundoran

A fisherman was rescued off Bundoran on Wednesday morning after a boat sustained engine failure.

The volunteer Bundoran RNLI crew came to the aid of the fisherman, whose 6m open top boat hit trouble half-a-mile from the pier at the lifeboat station.

The alarm was raised before 11am when the engine failed close to rocks.

At 10.51am, the lifeboat launched, helmed by Elliot Kearns and with crew members Finn Mullen, Fergal Muller and Mark Vaughan onboard.

Given the proximity of the stricken boat to rocks, the crew mounted an alongside tow and the casualty was brought safely to the nearby pier wall.

At the time, the weather was blowing a northerly force 2 wind, the sea was calm and there was good visibility.

“We would like to commend the casualty for wearing his life jacket and for raising the alarm when he knew he couldn’t make safe progress,” said Daimon Fergus, Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager.

‘As we continue to enjoy a good spell of weather, we would remind anyone planning a trip to sea, to respect the water and go prepared.

“We would encourage boat owners to ensure their engine is well maintained. Always wear an appropriate life jacket or buoyancy aid and always carry a means of calling for help.

“Always check the forecast and tide times before you venture out and tell someone where you are going and when you are due back. Should you get into trouble or see someone else in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”