Portrush RNLI have a busy start to the Easter Weekend

Portrush RNLI was launched twice this weekend in a busy start to the Easter break.

The pagers were first activated at 12.33 am on Sunday morning to reports of a young male in the sea at the South Pier West Strand Beach. The Inshore Lifeboat was launched at 12.45am. The volunteer ILB crew successfully recovered the casualty into the Lifeboat and returned him to the Lifeboat station where they were met by HM Coastguard. Despite it being after midnight the visibility was good, but the sea was extremely cold, so it was important that the casualty was reached as soon as possible, due to the potential of hypothermia.

The second callout at 5.18pm on Sunday evening was a request to launch again by HM Coastguard to reports of a young male climbing over metal barriers just beside the Lifeboat House at the nearby jetty. Unfortunately, the male fell approximately 3 metres onto the rocks and the Inshore Lifeboat was requested to assist with the recovery of the casualty.

The volunteer crew got the male casualty into the ILB by using the basket stretcher from the All-weather Lifeboat and transferred him to the main pontoon at the Harbour into the care of the Ambulance Service.

Beni McAllister Lifeboat Operations Manager at Portrush RNLI said: -

‘We would like to remind everyone that despite some warm weather the sea is still dangerously cold at this time of year and we would urge everyone to take care if you are visiting the coast during the holidays. Our Lifeguard colleagues are back on the beaches this weekend so please take advice from them if you are on the beach’

For more information, please go to www.rnli.org/safety

Ends

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.