Athlone Search & Recovery Training Update

The SAR team trained last Saturday the 30th of December. The training concentrated on line searches in fast flowing water, with particular attention to quick deployment of the dive team and collection after the dive. The day was very successful, three line searches were done and all who took part enjoyed the experience. More importantly things were learned and improved on. Thanks to our DO Liam Sheringham for doing coxan with John Kenny assisting and Robbie West, Cian Hynes, Declan Walsh, Stewart McMickan, Ollie Fallon and Niall McHugh for doing the practical work. Apologies were given from June Robbins, Colm O Reilly and Peter Chatterton who were unable to attend. Members of the SAR team please note that your dive certificate last two years and you must turn up and practice the different search methods over the coming months. This is for your own safety. Over the coming weeks, solo dive training will be done along the areas around the weir such as the eel lines and the lough gates.

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Ger C

SAR search for lost shotgun

On the 16th of December members of the Athlone Search & Recovery team searched for a lost shotgun on the request of the owner. The owner of the shotgun had fallen in and was unsure of the area in which he lost the gun. Cian Hynes, Stewart McMickan, Colm O Reilly and Ger Craven searched using the circular search method with the aid of a metal detector.
Liam Sheringham did coxan. The searches were unsuccessful with extremely poor visibiliy and a sillty bottom not making things easy. The searches were done in the Barley Harbour area of Lough Ree and we will try again to locate the gun in the coming months. Thanks to those who helped out.