Two people rescued from boat at risk of sinking off Howth

RNLI took vessel under tow to safety after receiving alert on Monday morning

Rescuers aboard the 48ft ketch which was taking on water and in danger of sinking off the north Dublin coast. Photograph: Howth RNLI
Rescuers aboard the 48ft ketch which was taking on water and in danger of sinking off the north Dublin coast. Photograph: Howth RNLI

Two people were rescued off the north Dublin coast near Howth on Monday morning after their sailing boat started to sink.

Howth RNLI launched its all weather lifeboat after learning that the sailing vessel with two people aboard was taking on water and starting to sink about 12km east of Howth.

The rescue team said the pagers sounded at 8.24am and the all weather lifeboat launched at 8.33am to reports of a yacht which was taking on water and in danger of sinking.

Two lifeboat volunteers went aboard the vessel with a high powered water pump, and an all weather lifeboat took it under tow to the safety of Howth marina.

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Ian Sheridan, Howth RNLI deputy coxswain said: “We were delighted to be able to launch so quickly and locate the sailing yacht fast enough to be able to save the vessel from sinking and bring them back to the safety of Howth marina.

“We remind everyone going to sea to always respect the water and always have a means of communication aboard. The casualty vessel in this instance was able to make immediate contact as soon as they discovered a problem and we were able to act accordingly.”