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Henry WeaverPress Officer at Scotland.
The source of the flares is still unknown but the RNLI would encourage people to inform the coastguard if they are planning to let off lanterns or fireworks in a coastal area.
Lifeboats News Release
Six volunteer crew members were out of bed and launched the lifeboat 10 minutes after they were alerted by the coastguard.
The Barra lifeboat was requested to launch at 12:55am on Friday 10 August and was underway at 1:05am.A member of the public spotted flares and called the coastguard, the lifeboat was requested to launch and assist with the search. It was thought that a vessel was spotted just off Orosay, west of south Uist. The lifeboat searched the area until 3:25am. It was a flat calm night but nothing was found.John L MacNeil, Barra lifeboat mechanic said, ‘It was like a mill pond out there, so calm we were even able to pick out seagulls from a distance, but we didn’t find the source of the flare.’The source of the flares is still unknown but the RNLI would encourage people to inform the coastguard if they are planning to let off lanterns or fireworks in a coastal area.The lifeboat was back at the station, washed down and re-fuelled ready for service at 4:25am.RNLI media contacts:Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642986, 07771 943026, henry_weaver@rnli.org.uk
Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07786 668903, richard_smith2@rnli.org.uk
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland from 236 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0845 122 6999 or by email.
The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland
Our lifeboat crews launch 24 times a day on average. Find out which station has launched near you around the UK and Republic of Ireland. View shouts.
Shouts
The source of the flares is still unknown but the RNLI would encourage people to inform the coastguard if they are planning to let off lanterns or fireworks in a coastal area.