The RNLI saved a family whose powerboat suffered engine failure and became stranded on rocks near Lambay Island, off the north Dublin coast, on May 3.

The alarm was raised at 2:37 pm when the Dublin Coast Guard received a 999 call from the distressed family.

The lifeboat was launched within 10 minutes, manned by seven crew members. The operation involved multiple agencies, including Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 and Skerries RNLI.

The crew from Howth RNLI launched their All-Weather Lifeboat to complete the rescue.

Despite challenging conditions, with a westerly wind and slight swell, the response teams swiftly mobilised to assist the stranded family.

Upon reaching the scene, the lifeboat crew observed that the family, including four children, had abandoned their boat and sought refuge on the rocks, unable to safely reach the island's shore.

The crew determined that the safest approach was to winch the family onboard the helicopter, Rescue 116.

Footage shows how the casualties were hoisted one-by-one onto the aircraft. They were safely transported to Rescue 116's base at Dublin Airport.

Meanwhile, the volunteer lifeboat crew from Skerries RNLI attempted to recover the stranded powerboat but faced challenges due to its precarious position on the rocks.

Coxswain Fred Connolly of Howth RNLI commended the family for their quick call for help and praised the efforts of the volunteer crew, highlighting their dedication and readiness to respond to emergencies.

He said: 'The family were all wearing lifejackets and although shaken, were in good health. They did the right thing in calling for help as soon as they got into difficulty.

'Our volunteer crew commit to dropping what they are doing and responding to the pager once it goes off, knowing that lives can be in danger. We train regularly for these situations and we are able to do this thanks to the generous donations of our supporters.'