Water safety more important than ever this bank holiday weekend – Ward

As the weather grows warmer, this bank holiday weekend, it is more important than ever that the public exercises care in the water, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Dún Laoghaire Senator Barry Ward is calling on members of the public to remain vigilant and aware of the fact that, while our beaches and coves are excellent resources for a variety of recreational activities, the water can be dangerous.

Senator Ward said: “As we move into the mid-summer and the weather gets warmer, coastal rescue services like the lifeboat, the Irish Coast Guard and Rescue 116 are under more and more pressure.

“With the good weather, it is great to see so many people flocking to our coastal towns and swimming spots. I welcome the sight of people swimming, paddle-boarding, sailing, wind-surfing and using our marine amenities for leisure. However, it is also important that people are aware that it is easy to get into trouble in the water. Conditions can change quickly and, if not prepared, people can easily get caught out.

“In a single day this week, RNLI lifeboats were launched to three separate incidents in the Dún Laoghaire area. These rescue missions included a swimmer in difficulty near Hawk Cliff in Killiney, a broken-down vessel near Blackrock, and a missing diver in Dalkey. Unfortunately, one of the people who got into trouble did not survive, and my thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go to his family.”

Senator Ward added: “The RNLI and our other emergency services are busy as more and more people make use of the great coastal resources we have in our area, and there have been more callouts in recent times than in previous years.

“We want to prevent tragedies as much as possible, so that if someone gets into trouble in the water, they can quickly be given the help they need. We don’t want to see a situation where emergency services are too busy to come to the aid of swimmers, divers or boaters.

“Please help our rescue services by not needing their help,” Senator Ward concluded.