Larne RNLI assist two people after motorboat breaks down off Antrim coast

Larne RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparran was requested to assist the casualty vessel which was experiencing engine difficulty, west of the Maidens.

There were two people onboard.

The lifeboat under Coxswain Frank Healy and with five crew members onboard launched at 8.44am.

Weather conditions at the time were described as dry with little swell.

Once on scene, volunteer crew member Michael Kane, went aboard the vessel and worked with the two sailors to establish a towline so that it could be brought into the shelter of Larne Harbour.

As the lifeboat was approaching Larne Harbour, the inshore lifeboat Terry, also launched to assist the all-weather lifeboat in bringing the vessel alongside Wymers Pier at East Antrim Boat Club.

Speaking following the call out, Larne RNLI Coxswain Frank Healy said: ‘Both of the men onboard were fine and we were pleased to see they were both wearing their lifejackets. We would remind anyone using a motorboat to always have a means for calling for help, to always check the weather and tide times and to make sure someone ashore knows where you are going and who to call if you don’t return on time.’

Key facts about the RNLI

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 Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen, Carrybridge and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 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.

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The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland