Two people aboard a 32 foot cruiser were rescued by Lough Derg lifeboat last night. The vessel ran aground on Sandy Bottom in Dromineer Bay.

Valentia Coast Guard requested lifeboat assistance at 8:05pm and the lifeboat was alongside the vessel eight minutes later.

All those onboard the vessel were safe and unharmed.

The boat was checked for damage and found not to be taking water, with the engine in good working order.

But an attempt to take the boat off the sandy bank by running its engines astern was unsuccessful. The lifeboat then took the cruiser under tow and out to open water, where further checks found that the steering was not working.

The cruiser, with two people and their dog on board, was towed to Dromineer Harbour and tied safely alongside at 8:45pm.