Floating pink flamingo toy sparks multi agency air and sea rescue operation

An inflatable pink flamingo toy sparked a multi-agency sea rescue over the weekend, after it was reported that a boat was drifting off-shore. 

The Coast Guard Operations Centre confirmed they were notified of an inflatable boat drifting off shore at Portmarnock on Sunday.

A multi agency operation went into action with shore crews consisting of Coast Guard personnel from Howth, Fingal Life Guards from surrounding beaches and local An Garda Síochána searching the Coast line.

Howth RNLI inshore lifeboat searched the water assisted by vessels in the area. Coast Guard Rescue 116 searched from the air.

The object was located and turned out to be a pink flamingo inflatable toy with nobody on board. A follow up search was carried out and confirmed no missing persons were reported.

"We would remind people not to bring inflatable toys to the seaside, as seen today they can drift very quickly away from the beach with an off shore wind," the Coast Guard commented on social media. 

This evening, we were tasked to an inflatable drifting offshore with a possible child onboard.

A multi-agency rescue operation with RNLI, Coast Guard, and Lifeguards discovered the object was a pink flamingo pool toy. Follow up searches determined nobody was missing. pic.twitter.com/5YcPsu3Kg9

— Irish Coast Guard - Howth Harbour Station (@HowthCoastGuard) August 13, 2023

However, they added that anyone who notices something of concern should never hesitate to contact the Irish Coast Guard at 999 or 112.