ARRANMORE RNLI volunteer crew have experienced a busy month responding to eight calls for assistance during the month of May, with two calls on Thursday last.

The first call out was at 6.40am on Thursday morning to assist in the medical evacuation of a patient with medical issues.

The patient was treated by the first responders on Arranmore and then transferred to the lifeboat, removed to a waiting ambulance in Burtonport and on to Letterkenny University Hospital for assessment.

The Lifeboat was again requested to launch by Malinhead Coast Guard at 1.25pm on Thursday afternoon to assist a charter boat with nine people on board with engine trouble when ropes got caught in the propeller.

On arrival at the stricken vessel on the northern point of Arranmore the lifeboat crew transferred eight of the passengers to the all-weather lifeboat for their safety and a crew member boarded the charter boat to assist the skipper cut the ropes which were tangled in the propeller.

The lifeboat crew then established a tow rope and towed the boat safely back to Arranmore.

Coxswain Philip Mc Cauley said: “It is really satisfying when there is a successful outcome to our calls and as an emergency service we are on call every day of the year.”

Ahead of the bank holiday Mr McCauley urged everyone to be aware of the sea safety messages issued by the Coast Guard, Water Safety Ireland and the RNLI.