Enniskillen RNLI volunteers Paul Keown and Kane Howe took part in a water safety activation at Croke Park during an All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-final, reaching more than 80,000 spectators.

The pair were among a group of RNLI volunteers who carried a large flag onto the pitch before the national anthem and displayed an Atlantic 85 lifeboat at the entrance to the stadium. Attendees could also handle throw bags and see the premiere of a new RNLI film promoting the Float to Live campaign.

The initiative is part of a nine-year partnership between the RNLI and the GAA, which sees volunteers deliver drowning prevention talks in clubs and communities across Ireland.

Paul Keown described the experience as a privilege and stressed the importance of the campaign’s core safety message. He urged anyone who gets into difficulty in the water to fight the instinct to panic or thrash about, and instead float on their back, control their breathing, and then call for help or swim to safety.

Keown also flanked the players’ tunnel as teams made their way onto the field.