Dramatic rescue on Lough Derg

A family suffered a terrifying ordeal on Lough Derg after they were thrown overboard from their vessel.

There were four people on board when it ran aground south of Terryglass yesterday afternoon.

The alarm was raised just after 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon when a family on board a rib got into difficulty on Lough Derg.

The Irish Coast Guard was tasked to come to their aid – a boat crew launched from Killaloe while a land crew travelled by road to Terryglass Harbour.

Damien Madden was the Deputy Officer in charge of the unit.

The two children on board were showing signs of hypothermia – the family were brought to shore in Terryglass where they were assessed by ambulance personnel who decided none of those on board needed hospital treatment.

It’s been a busy time for rescue services on Lough Derg in recent weeks.

Indeed Damien Madden says Coast Guard Unit in Killaloe – which is a voluntary service – has been called into action 51 times already this year.