A woman has been rescued from Lough Derg near Portumna, Co Galway, after using her mobile phone to alert emergency services when she got into difficulty.
The woman had been paddle-boarding on Wednesday afternoon and, after coming off her board, was unable to get back on.
She said she was in the water for an hour and a half before she was eventually able to use her mobile phone to call the emergency services. She was located after being able to identify landmarks visible on shore.
Valentia Coast Guard requested the launch of Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to assist the woman who was at the northern end of the lake.
As crew and shore crew prepared for launch, they were informed that the woman was clinging to a navigation mark.
The lifeboat was launched at 4.22pm with helm Eleanor Hooker, crew Steve Smyth, Joe O’Donoghue and Doireann Kennedy on board. The lake was “near calm” with southerly winds of force 1-2. Visibility was described as “good”.
Rescue 115, the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter team, also launched from their base at Shannon. Portumna gardaí, Portumna fire and rescue crews, and Galway ambulance crews made their way to a small harbour on the Galway shore known as New Quay.
As the lifeboat approached the scene they were informed by Valentia Coast Guard that the Portumna fire and rescue crews, who had launched their dory, had located the woman clinging to the navigation mark.
The woman was taken ashore where an ambulance and crew were waiting to assist. The lifeboat departed the scene at 5pm and was back at the station at 5.40pm.
Catherine Gleeson, deputy launching authority at Lough Derg RNLI, said she was “glad of the positive outcome and that the person in the water had a means of calling for help”.
She advised water users not to go out alone where possible, but to inform someone of their location and expected return time if going alone.
