1st callout of the New Year for Girvan Lifeboat

At 8:54pm Girvan Lifeboats volunteer crew pagers were activated by Coastguard Operations Centre Belfast to reports of a fishing vessel agound North of Girvan near Brest Rocks.

Our volunteer crew assembled at the lifeboat station and within minutes the All-weather Lifeboat Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan was passing the pier end and heading North, on a still, icy calm night it wasn't long before the lifeboat was on scene, with the tide rising the skipper had managed to free the vessel as the lifeboat arrived.

After communicating with the skipper it was ascertained that now afloat he was happy to make his way back to Girvan, the lifeboat stood by and escorted the vessel back into the safety of Girvan Harbour, where it was met by Girvan Coastguard Rescue Team.

Girvan lifeboat returned to station and was made ready for the next service call, this was our 1st callout of the new year, whilst like many, still under the restrictions and changes to life that covid brings, our volunteer crew remain ready to respond 24hrs a day and launch the lifeboat at a moments notice whenever the pagers go off.

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

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