Larne RNLI rescue three kayakers in the water near Muck Island

Larne RNLI were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard yesterday (23 July) to reports of a pan pan alert of people in the water near Muck Island of Islandmagee after their kayak had overturned.

Launching their relief inshore lifeboat, Arthur Hamilton, at 6:57pm into a calm sea with a rolling sea mist closing in, the volunteer crew made their way towards the casualties’ location in the Muck Island area.

Arriving at the north of the island, they discovered a person on the rocks who had fallen from his kayak but had managed to get out of the water and was able to direct the volunteer crew members towards a second overturned kayak at the southern end of the island.

When the crew reached the kayak, they discovered three people in the water, one of whom was exhibiting the effects of being in the cold open water for a prolonged period.

The crew recovered all three of the casualties into the lifeboat, checking for any injuries and keeping them safe and warm whilst returning them to Portmuck harbour where they were met by members of the Portmuck Coastguard team and the Northern Ireland ambulance service.

Once the casualties were safely ashore, the volunteer crew returned to recover one of the kayaks that had been left behind and bring it into the safety of the harbour.

Barry Kirkpatrick, Larne RNLI Helm, said: ‘Always wear a lifejacket when you are going to sea, if you enter the water it will keep you afloat. Even in the warm weather, the sea temperatures can get very cold.

ENDS

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Steven Lee, Larne RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07753274490 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 00353 876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 00353 871254124 or [email protected]

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 10 lifeboat stations in Northern Ireland and in a normal year has 11 lifeguarded beaches which it operates seasonally. 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, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.

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.