Portrush RNLI launches to a swimmer in difficulty at Dunluce Castle
Belfast Coastguard reported that there were reports of a man in the water who was unable to get back to shore.
Portrush RNLI volunteer crew were requested to launch at 6.03pm tonight (Thursday 25thJune) to reports of two swimmers in difficulty in the vicinity of Dunluce Castle.
Belfast Coastguard reported that there were reports of a man in the water who was unable to get back to shore. The Inshore Lifeboat (ILB)crew who were at the station and due to undergo assessments launched and arrived on scene at 6.15pm to discover that there were actually two people in the water.
The second person had entered the water to try to rescue the first swimmer, but was unable to get him back to shore, because of the strong tidal stream. However, the second person was able to keep the first person above water until the volunteer crew arrived.
The ILB crew got the two casualties into the ILB and transported them back to Portballintrae where the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service was waiting along with the Air Ambulance. The RNLI Lifeguards were also in attendance, along with the Coastguard.
Keith Gilmore: Lifeboat Operations Manager said:
The swimmer was very lucky that there was someone on scene to assist while the Inshore Lifeboat launched and arrived on scene. The volunteer crew were very quickly able to get the two people into the ILB and transported to a waiting ambulance. This is the classic scenario that we train for each week and the crew are very skilled and highly trained for this type of rescue. We would like to wish the two casualties a speedy recovery
The condition of the two casualties is unknown at this time.
ENDS
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