Irish Canoe Team Escapes Middle East Amidst Rising Tensions

Ireland’s national canoe team, including two-time Olympian Liam Jegou, has safely departed the United Arab Emirates after a training camp was disrupted by escalating regional instability. The team faced significant challenges in securing their return journey as commercial flights were cancelled due to the volatile situation in the Middle East.

Stranded During Training Camp

The seven-woman, six-man squad, along with two coaches, had been training in the UAE, located approximately an hour and a half from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Originally scheduled to return home on March 6th, their flight was unexpectedly cancelled, leaving them stranded amidst growing concerns about regional security .

A Race Against Time

The team experienced firsthand the heightened tensions in the region, receiving missile alerts during their stay. Finding alternative flights proved tough, prompting a desperate search for a way home. According to Liam Jegou, the situation was “a bit nerve wracking” and “particularly strange.”

Creative Solutions and a Lucky Break

Faced with the prospect of abandoning their canoes or resorting to dismantling them to fit onto commercial flights, the team explored unconventional solutions. Jegou recounted that some team members even considered sawing up the boats to facilitate transport. However, a stroke of luck intervened when Jegou discovered information on Instagram from an embassy regarding updated flight schedules with Etihad Airways.

“We just got lucky,” Jegou stated. After securing approval from Canoeing Ireland, the team swiftly booked seats on the available flights and traveled to Abu Dhabi, successfully departing for Paris in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Community Support and Safe Return

The airline initially hesitated to transport the canoes due to their length, but ultimately agreed after intervention from concerned locals who learned of the team’s predicament. The team’s equipment returned undamaged.

Back in Pau, France, Jegou expressed relief and gratitude for the support received from Canoeing Ireland and the team’s collective efforts. The Irish canoe team was among the last to leave the training venue, following the Czech team’s similar experience with flight cancellations.