Galway RNLI Lifeboat rescued a man from a sailing vessel which blew off course and landed on rocks near Renville, Galway, today.

THE Galway Lifeboat arrived at the scene within ten minutes of an emergency call, and were assisted by the Irish Coastguard Helicopter.

A lifeboat crew member swam ashore and helped transport the man onto the Lifeboat along with the vesselÂ’s kit.

He did not require medical assistance and was brought back to Galway Docks.

The Lifeboat returned to Renville, accompanied by local boat 'Tranquility', in an attempt to take the distressed sailboat from the rocks but the operation proved unsafe and was abandoned.

“The conditions were very difficult at the time as we were working onto a lee shore, gusting 5. We had to veer the lifeboat down onto the island to allow our crew member get ashore and get our casualty off and onto the lifeboat,” explains Declan Killilea, Helmsman.

The lifeboat crew on this call out were: Declan Killilea (Helmsman), Kieran Tolan, Martin Oliver and Dara Oliver. The fishing vessel 'Tranquility' was skippered by owner Patrick Oliver (also a lifeboat crew member) and Galway Lifeboat launch authority Barry Heskin.