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Portaferry RNLI launch to kayakers in difficulty.

Lifeboats News Release

Portaferry RNLI came to the aid of kayakers who got into difficulty near Ballydoran late this afternoon (Saturday 6 November).

Portaferry RNLI launch

RNLI/Jordan Conway

Portaferry RNLI launch

Portaferry’s volunteer lifeboat crew launched promptly at 3:57pm and made their way to Trasnagh Island, near Ballydoran in Strangford Lough. The crew launched in cloudy weather conditions with good visibility and a force six westerly wind direction.

When on scene at 4:35pm the crew observed two casualties on the western side of Trasnagh Island. The lifeboat crew approached the island and sent a volunteer crew member ashore on Trasnagh Island and they recovered the two people with their kayaks. They were then taken ashore to Whiterock and transferred into to the care of Portaferry coastguard rescue team.

The lifeboat returned back to station and ready for service at 6:00pm.

Commenting on the call-out, Fergal Glynn Portaferry RNLI Helm said: ‘The casualties had the foresight to wear appropriate PPE and once conditions were too much, they made their way safely to shore on the island and made contact with the coastguard’.

Ends

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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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