At 06:10 this morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team were paged by the Coast Guard’s Marine Operations Centre (MOC) to assist with an incident at Balbriggan harbour, 5 miles north of Skerries. Balbriggan Gardai had received a public report of a person near Balbriggan harbour who may have required assistance. The Skerries Coast Guard team arrived on scene at the harbour and within minutes the casualty was successfully assisted from danger by Balbriggan Gardai. No further action was required and the team returned to base.

Incident #26 of 2011

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty, even if you only think that someone could be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard.

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This morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team conducted a search training exercise at Bremore, one mile north of Balbriggan harbour. This scenario based exercise included a detailed shore search covering several miles of the North Balbriggan coast. Weather on scene was favourable, with good visibility and dry conditions. As part of the exercise, the team also fired several marine flares. Photos of this exercise are available in our online gallery.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty, even if you only think that someone could be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard

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At 19:03 this evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate reports of multiple red parachute distress flares deployed North of Balbriggan. Concerned members of the public had contacted the Irish Coast Guard’s control centre to report sighting the orange/red parachute flares.

The Skerries team were immediately despatched to the scene and observed a number of flares in the area North of Balbriggan, near the Gormonston army training camp. It emerged that the army were engaged in exercises in the area and these involved the deployment of illuminating flares. No further action was required and the team returned to base.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty or even if you only think that someone could be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Incident # 24 of 2011

Skerries Coast Guard – a voluntary rescue unit of the Irish Coast Guard

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Just before 01:00 this morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate a report of a white flare near Gormonston, two miles North of Balbriggan harbour. A vigilent member of the public had spotted what appeared to be a white parachute flare just off the coast and was concerned it could have been from a ship in distress.

The Skerries Coast Guard team were dispatched to investigate and carried out a thorough search of the area with nothing unusual reported. No further action was required and the team returned to base.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty, even if you only think that someone could be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Incident # 22 of 2011

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This roadshow was a highly interactive and enjoyable event for the local community featuring various organisations and displays. The Skerries Coast Guard team had several Irish Coast Guard rescue resources on display including an off road rescue vehicle, a full emergency medical kit, search and communications equipment . The team also had an Irish Coast Guard patrol boat on display.

The Irish Coast Guard water safety trailer was at the event, packed with free goodies and safety leaflets. The Dublin Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116,  also provided a dramatic flyover and aerobatical display for the crowds.

Other highlights of the event included the Road Safety Authority’s driving simulator. A chance to take a look at the high tech workings inside one of the now familar Gatso speed vans. The Skerries Coast Guard team also tested out the infamous Audi A4 rollover simulator, almost like a slow motion car crash that proves why seatbelts are so important.

The Balbriggan Fire Brigade carried out a extraction demonstration, showing up close how they can cut away car wreckage with such skill and ease thanks to their impressive array of equipment and training. The Gardai traffic Corp were on hand to offer road safety advice. Dublin Civil Defence also had their mobile command centre, fire truck and other rescue vehicles on display.

Photos of the event and the rest of the weekend’s activities are available in our online photo gallery.

Further photos are available on Balbriggan.net and Balbriggan.info

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At 19:48 this evening, the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard were tasked to investigate reports of an unmanned jetski adrift off the Balbriggan coast. A vigilant member of the public contacted the Coast Guard after spotting the object in the water some distance from the shore. The caller believed the object may have been an unmanned jetski adrift.

The Skerries Coast Guard team were immediately tasked to investigate the report. The primary concern in such cases is that the driver may have fallen from the jetski at speed and suffered serious injury. The Skerries team arrived at Balbriggan beach within minutes of the tasking and immediately began a shoreline search. The object was quickly identified and after detailed observation the team established it was a very small leisure craft, with persons on board. The vessel was not in difficulty and no further action was required.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, or even if you only think that someone could be in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Do not assume someone else had made the call.

Incident #16 of 2011

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At 18:12 this evening, the Skerries Coast Guard team were tasked to investigate a report of persons stranded by the incoming tide. A vigilant member of the public had contacted the Coast Guard on 999 to report two adults on a rocky island outcrop near Balbriggan. The two people appeared to be waving at passing boats, trying to attract attention.

Within minutes, the Skerries Coast Guard team arrived at the clifftop overlooking the area, known locally as “Long Leg” and quickly spotted the two persons. While it is unusual for someone to remain on the rocks with the tide coming in, the two persons were rod fishing and did not appear to be in need of assistance. Although the next high tide was due within the hour, the height of the tide would not have been sufficient to completely cover the rocks. The Coast Guard made contact with the two people by phone and established that they had planned to continue fishing while waiting for the tide to ebb, and they would then make their way back to the shore later this evening on foot.

With no further assistance required the Skerries Coast Guard team returned to base.

Remember – if you spot someone in difficulty on the coast, even if you only think that person may be in difficulty, call 112 or 999 and ask for the COAST GUARD. Your call could save their life.

Incident #8 of 2011

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From early morning, the Skerries Coast Guard team took part in a large scale land search exercise at Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan. The day was divided into two principal training events: the first a challenging initial response land search for a missing person; the second, a wide ranging orienteering course.

The land search kicked off with a initial brief on a recently reported missing person. As the search was centred on the initial response phase, techniques such as purposeful wandering proved very effective as the teams tackled the dense forest area.

The second phase of the exercise focused on challenging the team’s orienteering skills, taking them through a series of compass and bearing scenarios. This brought them across the many acres of open parkland, overlooking Barnageera Bay and Skerries harbour in the distance.

Overall, the training day was a great success and also proved a useful opportunity for the passing members of public to find out more about their local coast guard.

More photos are available in our online photo gallery

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