Enniskillen RNLI brings six people to safety after boat runs aground
Enniskillen RNLI was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard at 12.36pm today (Thursday 26 July) to a boat aground and reports of a person in the water in the Castle Cauldwell area. The PSNI boat Lady Grey was requested also.
The weather at the time was clear and bright with a moderate wind.
The volunteer crew on the inshore lifeboat Joseph and Mary Hiley and the Rescue Water Craft made their way to the area and found all six people onboard - five adults and one child - safe and well on the 40ft cruiser which was aground.
A tow was set up and the crew managed to free the vessel from the area into safer water. Lifeboat crew onboard checked the boat over and found it working well mechanically and stayed with the cruiser’s crew until they were well into the Belleek River. The passengers were happy to make their onward journey.
Following the call out Stephen Ingram, Enniskillen RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer and crew member said: ‘We would like to wish those onboard the cruiser a safe and enjoyable onward journey. Today’s call out was a good example of ourselves and our colleagues in the local PSNI working well together to bring people to safety.
‘As people continue to enjoy Lough Erne this summer, we would remind everyone to always respect the water. If your vessel does get into difficulty call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. As the terrain underwater can be unpredictable we would ask people to always remain onboard your boat and wait for help to arrive.’
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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