Enniskillen RNLI volunteers bring six people to safety during Storm Ellen

The crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat by Belfast Coastguard in the early hours of Thursday morning (26 August) after they received a call that two boats were breaking their moorings at Devenish Island on Lower Lough Erne during Storm Ellen.

At 3.46am, the crew were requested to respond to two vessels which were moored for the night. During the high winds of Storm Ellen the boats faced the elements and cleats had broken free from the cruiser. The passengers were able to secure the boat to another cleat and waited for the RNLI crew to arrive. The weather at the time was a challenging force 7-8 southerly high wind. The lifeboat crew moved the smaller boat to the inside of the jetty to protect it from the ongoing gale.

Over two journeys to Enniskillen, the charity’s lifeboat John and Jean Lewis brought the six people, four adults and two children, to safety.

During the call out another request for assistance came through from Belfast Coastguard requesting the volunteers to help to secure three boats that had broken their moorings at the Lough Erne Yacht Club. An RNLI crew attended the call and helped to make the vessels safe and secure.

Speaking after the call out, Stephen Ingram, Enniskillen RNLI Helm and Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘We would like to praise the people for raising the alarm in challenging and frightening conditions so we could bring them and the vessels to safety. We would also commend the work of our volunteers in challenging conditions.’

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