Three people were rescued from Galway Bay by Galway RNLI Lifeboat on Sunday and taken by ambulance to University Hospital Galway.

All three were suffering from hypothermia as they had been in the water for almost two hours, and lifeboat crewmembers had to administer first aid and oxygen.

The three men were travelling from Renville to New Quay in their eight-meter rib when they fell overboard south of the bay, near Kilcolgan Point.

The Irish Coastguard alerted Galway Lifeboat at approximately 4.33pm that the boat was overdue at New Quay. Galway RNLI Lifeboat was on a training exercise in Kinvara at the time and diverted towards Kilcolgan Point to commence the search.

The lifeboat reached Galway Docks at 5pm and two of the men were taken on stretchers to waiting ambulances. All three were taken to University Hospital Galway.

The Galway RNLI Lifeboat crew were: Adrian Phillips (Helmsman), Olivia Byrne, John Byrne and Seamus Carter.

Galway RNLI Lifeboat Launching Authority Mike Swan said, "Only for the intense training our crew undergoes, it could have been far more serious."

Sunday proved to be a very busy day for the Galway RNLI Lifeboat. Dochas was launched earlier in the day at 1.08pm, to rescue three people who almost got stranded by the rising tide walking back from Mutton Island. The three made it safely ashore and the lifeboat was stood down.

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