FOUR PEOPLE HAVE been rescued off the coast of Cork this morning after their boat had engine problems.

The RNLI was called out at 11.25am and headed out from Courtmacsherry Bay where a 14-foot pleasure boat was stranded.

The alert was raised after the boat was seen to have got into difficulties and was being blown by strong winds towards the coast line, which coupled with the engine problems had put those on board “in great danger”, according to the RNLI.

An eight-man crew under Coxswain Ken Cashman reached the stricken causality within 15 minutes.

The lifeboat crew then secured a towline to the stricken vessel and then proceeded to tow the boat away from the shoreline and brought it back to the inner harbour.

Courtmacsherry RNLI officer Vincent O’Donovan said, “We are pleased that our Lifeboat was again very fast away today – with eight volunteers quickly responding within two minutes and that the rescue was carried out efficiently and very quickly”

He also appealed to all that are using the water over these busy holiday weeks to “take great care of the safety measures associated with your pleasure craft and that life jackets are always worn by all persons on board your boat”.

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