SHANNON BREEZE

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Man rescued two hours after falling over board

A man has been rescued from the water by a Coast Guard helicopter two hours after falling overboard from the Shannon ferry, serving on the route Tarbert, County Kerry-Killimer, County Clare, on Sep 7, 2025, shortly after 9 a.m. In moderate conditions with a strong ebb tide, the Kilrush RNLI lifeboat proceeded swiftly to the last known position, after being alerted at 9.22 a.m. A major multi-agency SAR operation was quickly initiated. The Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 was tasked from Waterford, Fenit RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched, and both the Ballybunion Coast Guard unit and the Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue unit were mobilised. A number of other vessels also assisted, including two Foynes-based yachts, the Shannon Pilot boat, and both Shannon Ferries vessels 'Shannon Breeze' and 'Shannon Dolphin'. The search area extended from Aylevarroo Point to Tarbert, with coordinated creeping line search patterns carried out. Shortly after 11 a.m., the Rescue 117's crew sighted a person swimming near the Tarbert power station. approximately 1.5 nautical miles west of the Tarbert Lighthouse on the Kerry shore. The helicopter’s winchman was deployed, entered the water and secured the casualty. The Kilrush RNLI boat then came alongside, recovered the casualty safely on board, and supported the winchman during the operation. The casualty was subsequently winched from the lifeboat into the helicopter and transferred directly to University Hospital Limerick for treatment for severe hypothermia. Once the person was confirmed safe, the wider search operation was stood down. The Shannon Ferry Group will conduct an internal review following the incident. The man was reportedly recovering well.