Posted online: Jan 27th, 2010

Five people were rescued by the Lough Swilly RNLI in two separate incidents on Saturday last.

In the first, the stationís all weather lifeboat towed a 40 foot yacht, with two adults and a child on board, to safety off Tory Island Harbour after it became stranded near Horn Head due to engine failure at 1.15pm.

In the second incident, the stationís inshore Atlantic 85 assisted two jet skiers who had fouled their jet ski on a rope and were experiencing difficulty swimming ashore with the immobilized craft.

Lough Swilly Lifeboat press officer Joe Joyce said: ìItís an early start to the yearís launches with two shouts in the one day brought about by the milder, calm conditions.î

Meanwhile, figures released by the RNLI reveal the Swilly lifeboard was launched 23 times last year and rescued 23 people ñ nine fewer than 2008 when the it was launched 32 times.