Be responsible - Rescue mission ends in death

YESTERDAY’S tragedy in Kilkee, Co Clare, when a member of the Irish Coast Guard died after an accident that occurred during a search and rescue operation, is a reminder of the risks inherent in any journey on water, especially in difficult and dangerous weather conditions.

Three members of a coastguard unit based at Kilkee — two women and a man — were involved in a search for a missing man when their rigid inflatable boat (RIB) flipped over in a heavy swell as they searched sea cliffs near the resort town.

The loss of life underlines again the great risks volunteers expose themselves to when they offer to help in search and rescue missions.