19/03/2010

Howth Head Rescue Drama Revealed

It has emerged that seven people nearly became St Patrick's Day victims, as they had to be rescued at Howth Head on Wednesday night after becoming stranded by an incoming tide.

The five men and two women were celebrating on a small beach in the vicinity of the Bailey lighthouse in Co Dublin when they became trapped.

The group telephoned the coastguard for assistance, as they feared for their safety in the fading light.

Ropes were used to bring them up the 50m cliffs by a 20-strong rescue team in an operation, which was completed just before 10pm.

A spokesman for the coast guard said the group had "got down into this particular area and they were unable to get back up".

He said they were involved in "some sort of leisure activity" but he added he could not speculate what they were doing.

"Needless to say, it was St Patrick's Day," the spokesman said.

The operation was run by the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Dublin.

The Howth Coast Guard unit was called and it sent out its cliff rescue team.

(BMcC/GK)

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