Trollies hampering Boyne rescue bids

By JOANNE LITTLE, Mid Louth Independent - Friday November 22nd 2002

AS the search for two missing men continues on the River Boyne this week, a local river rescue service has revealed that the huge volume of shopping trolleys in the water is hampering rescue efforts and adding to the anguish of grieving families.

Boyne Fishermen Rescue and Recovery Service (BFRRS) said that their crew's tireless work to recover the bodies has been made to struggle against the numerous steel obstacles in the river.

The BFRRS boats were on the river for a full 10 hours on Sunday searching for a 19-year-old local man sighted entering the Boyne in the early hours of Saturday morning. According to a spokesperson, however, the crew were only able to carry out a thorough search for two of those 10 hours.

We have two families waiting for news of their loved ones but these shopping trolleys are impeding our efforts. The situation with these trolleys is beyond belief. Crews have had to pull the trolleys out with jeeps, taking valuable time away from the search,' said the spokesperson.

'700 trolleys were taken out last year but there seems to be just as much in there again. Eventually they are going to cause damage to boats and equipment and a life may be lost as a result.'

She also revealed that the adverse weather conditions has made it difficult for those conducting the search.

The search for the two men brings to six the number of lives lost in the Boyne in the last seven months and has heightened fears that the river is being used as a cry for help for those in a distressed state.

Following the recent rise in rescue calls on the river, the Drogheda branch of the Samaritans has made a plea for anyone feeling depressed and suicidal to contact them immediately.

A spokesperson at the local branch on Stockwell Street noted that the number of calls always starts to increase once September comes in, noting that it is natural with the dark evenings and Christmas coming up.

'Winter is always a very depressing time for people and often they do not know how to deal with their problems. We would urge those people to contact us and speak through their difficulties,' she said.

'It doesn't matter who you are. If you are in crisis, despairing or suicidal, it can make all the difference to talk about how you are feeling. You can speak in total confidence with one of our volunteers about anything that is troubling you. We will not judge you, we will not tell you what to do but we will try to help you think things through,' she said.

Drogheda River and Sea Rescue (DRSR) confirmed that the number of their call-outs dramatically increases in the months November, December and January.

'It is the dark nights and loneliness that will often drive people to do something drastic and the number of people going into the river going into the river does increase from September onwards,' said a DRSR spokesperson.

The Drogheda branch of The Samaritans are open to receive callers from 5pm to 9pm Monday to Wednesday and 2pm to 9pm Thursday to Saturday at 041-9843888.

© Mid Louth Independent