Lucky escape for boat angler

A FISHERMAN had a miraculous escape yesterday after he was thrown from his boat which continued to circle around him, narrowly missing him on several occasions.

The incident happened shortly before midday in Kilkee in west Clare when the man in his 50s was making his way out of the bay in a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to go fishing. The man, believed to be from Co Limerick, was tossed out of the craft before he had a chance to connect his kill-switch toggle or don his lifejacket.

The toggle connects an operator to a “deadman switch” on a boat which cuts off the engine if that person falls overboard. In this case, however, the man was thrown into the sea leaving the unmanned RIB circling uncontrollably in the bay.