Coastguard called to two false alarms

Last night, flares off Heir Island were sighted from Schull, Co Cork.

The Valentia Coastguard was alerted and the decision to launch the Baltimore lifeboat, Hilda Jarrett, was made at 10.46pm.

Within minutes, the crew were aboard in their kit, ready to carry out a search-and-rescue operation in the area in which the flares had been sighted.

This is the fourth time within the space of five days that the Baltimore lifeboat has responded to a distress call.

The volunteer crew had twice been to Sherkin Island last weekend and once made a search of the Schull area after reported sightings of flares.

The lifeboat carried out a thorough search of the area, but nothing was found.

The lifeboat returned to base, but before she could be recovered to the slip another alert came from Valentia Coastguard and the lifeboat was called to investigate a flashing light in Roaring Water Bay.

This too proved to be a false alarm.

The Hilda Jarrett finally was recovered at 1.35am this morning to her launching position for the next call out.

The lifeboat saves lives at sea and is totally reliant on voluntary donations.

Last year, the Baltimore lifeboat was launched 18 times and a total of 30 people were rescued.

So far this year, the lifeboat has been launched 13 times.