Very Lucky Boat Thief
Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:58 pm
By Michael Lavery
Thursday October 20 2011
A BOAT thief is "lucky to be alive" after being swept a mile out to sea of the Bray coast.
The man was within minutes of drowning when coastguard volunteers rescued him.
Greystones Coastguard members pulled him from the sea as he struggled to stay afloat in the freezing water.
Supt Pat Ward of Bray Garda Station said, "He is lucky to be alive. It was a cold night, he was exposed to the elements and he was lucky to be rescued when he was."
Gardai in Bray added that they were investigating the theft of a boat relating to the incident.
The rescue operation also involved Rescue helicopter 116 and Dun Laoghaire RNLI.
The young man had taken a small plastic punt with no oars in the harbour at Bray and was swept a mile out to sea by a strong current.
A fisherman spotted him from the shore and alerted the emergency services.
The coastguard received a call at 12.15am to say that an intoxicated male was in trouble.
The Coastguard helicopter located the youth and kept their searchlight trained on him until the Greystones team got to him.
He had fallen into the sea and had let go of the dingy by the time rescuers reached him and was fighting to stay afloat.
Dermot Macaulay led the local rescue team on the night.
"If it had been a few minutes later, he may not have survived, He didn't have hypothermia but he was very close," he said.
Local Councillor Grainne McLoughlin congratulated the Coastguard on the operation.
"The work of the Coastguard goes by hardly noticed but the important role they play can never be understated."
hnews@herald.ie
- Michael Lavery
just goes to show how important anglers are in keeping an eye out for incidents at sea
Thursday October 20 2011
A BOAT thief is "lucky to be alive" after being swept a mile out to sea of the Bray coast.
The man was within minutes of drowning when coastguard volunteers rescued him.
Greystones Coastguard members pulled him from the sea as he struggled to stay afloat in the freezing water.
Supt Pat Ward of Bray Garda Station said, "He is lucky to be alive. It was a cold night, he was exposed to the elements and he was lucky to be rescued when he was."
Gardai in Bray added that they were investigating the theft of a boat relating to the incident.
The rescue operation also involved Rescue helicopter 116 and Dun Laoghaire RNLI.
The young man had taken a small plastic punt with no oars in the harbour at Bray and was swept a mile out to sea by a strong current.
A fisherman spotted him from the shore and alerted the emergency services.
The coastguard received a call at 12.15am to say that an intoxicated male was in trouble.
The Coastguard helicopter located the youth and kept their searchlight trained on him until the Greystones team got to him.
He had fallen into the sea and had let go of the dingy by the time rescuers reached him and was fighting to stay afloat.
Dermot Macaulay led the local rescue team on the night.
"If it had been a few minutes later, he may not have survived, He didn't have hypothermia but he was very close," he said.
Local Councillor Grainne McLoughlin congratulated the Coastguard on the operation.
"The work of the Coastguard goes by hardly noticed but the important role they play can never be understated."
hnews@herald.ie
- Michael Lavery
just goes to show how important anglers are in keeping an eye out for incidents at sea
Re: Very Lucky Boat Thief
Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:28 pm
I would be willing to bet one of the lads here in these forums rang the emergency services!
And once again well done to the Coast Guard and the RNLI!!
And once again well done to the Coast Guard and the RNLI!!
Re: Very Lucky Boat Thief
Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:56 pm
christ. lucky lucky (drunk) lad
Re: Very Lucky Boat Thief
Fri Oct 21, 2011 7:47 pm
There's a few plastic punts in Bray harbour and if they are now floating in the Irish Sea maybe hypothermia will be the least of his worries. 
Yappo
Yappo
Re: Very Lucky Boat Thief
Sat Oct 22, 2011 10:57 am
I wonder how much the rescue operation cost ? He should be made pay the entire cost ! It should be added to any charges brought against him.
Re: Very Lucky Boat Thief
Sat Oct 22, 2011 1:01 pm
well done to the emergency services and the angler that called them,,,, as for the thief , well i wont comment on what i think about that, "i know everyone else is thinking it"
Re: Very Lucky Boat Thief
Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:22 pm
luckey is not the word divine intervention would be more like it.would be suprised if he is a local as there all well aware of the strong currents around bray harbour