Larne RNLI called out to assist sinking vessel with two people onboard
Yesterday (24 August) evening at 8:42pm, Larne RNLI was requested to launch by Belfast coastguard to reports of a sinking vessel which had two people on board.
Launching both of their lifeboats, Larne RNLI’s volunteer crew made their way towards the casualty vessel's reported position, just outside of Larne Harbour
Whilst heading towards the location of the vessel, the inshore lifeboat, Terry, was stopped by a passing pleasure craft to report that they had recovered the two people from the casualty vessel. After insuring that the people were safe and well, the casualties were transferred onto the inshore lifeboat and then onto the all-weather lifeboat, Dr John McSparron, where they were kept warm and dry whilst heading back into Larne Harbour where they were transferred to the Larne Coastguard team.
Once the casulaties had been handed over to the Coastguard team, Belfast Coastguard requested that both boats survey the casualty vessel to see if anything could be salvaged.
After an assessment carried out by both of the lifeboats, it was agreed that there was nothing that could be done to try and salvage the casualty vessel, which was mostly submerged at the time.
Larne RNLI’s Lifeboat Operation Manager, Allan Dorman said after the call out, ‘I would like to remind people that when going to sea that it is important to have a means of contacting either the shore or the Coastguard. I would also like to stress the importance of wearing a lifejacket when out at sea as this makes our task much easier if we need to try and find someone who has had to enter the water.’
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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