Troon lifeboats launch to inflatables blown offshore at Ayr
Troon lifeboats launch to inflatables blown offshore at Ayr
Lifeboats News Release
At 1.57pm on Friday 25 May 2018, Troon lifeboat crew were paged by Belfast Coastguard after reports of inflatables being blown off the coast at Ayr.
Due to this, the volunteer crew attended at the lifeboat station and quickly launched the Trent class all-weather lifeboat
RNLB Jim Moffat and D Class inshore lifeboat Sheena to the scene. Also tasked by Belfast Coastguard was the Ayr Coastguard Rescue Team.
The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene first and quickly located a few inflatables that had been blown out to sea.
After carrying out a search of the area, and liaising with the Coastguard team on scene, the inshore lifeboat crew were satisfied that no persons were in difficulty at Ayr and with no further inflatables seen returned to Troon.
While on route to Ayr, the all-weather lifeboat was diverted to Irvine harbour after Belfast Coastguard received information that there could also be inflatables being blown off the coast here.
The all-weather lifeboat made its way to Irvine but no inflatables were seen.
Both lifeboats were then stood down by Belfast Coastguard and returned to Troon where they were made 'Ready for Service' with the assistance of the shore crew.
Troon Lifeboat Coxswain Joe Millar said: 'Thankfully on this occasion no-one was in difficulty but the person who notified the Coastguard did the right thing as its better to be safe than sorry.
'Inflatables and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea especially when the wind is blowing offshore and they can quickly be blown out to sea.
'If you do see someone in trouble at sea or on the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.'
RNLI Media Contacts: Andrew Limond, volunteer lifeboat press officer at Troon, 01292 314414
[email protected]
Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]
Gemma McDonald, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
RNLI/TroonLifeboat
Troon inshore lifeboat recovers one of the inflatables drifting off Ayr
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.
