Two callouts for Troon RNLI all-weather and inshore lifeboats
Two callouts for Troon RNLI all-weather and inshore lifeboats
Lifeboats News Release
The first callout came at 11.55am on Sunday 24th April 2022 when Belfast Coastguard were alerted to a jet skier in the water near to Stevenson that had been separated from their jet ski.
RNLI/TroonLifeboat
Troon RNLI inshore lifeboat approaching the kayakers off the coast at Irvine
The crew pagers were activated by Belfast Coastguard and the volunteer crew made their way to the lifeboat station to launch RNLI Trent class all-weather lifeboat
RNLB Jim Moffat and D class inshore lifeboat Sheena. Also tasked were the Ayr and Ardrossan coastguard rescue teams along with the coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick Rescue 199.
The all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene first and recovered the jet skier onboard and took them to Ardrossan harbour where they were passed into the care of the coastguard team. The inshore lifeboat located the drifting jet ski and towed it ashore to Stevenson point.
The lifeboats then stood down and returned to Troon where they were made ‘ready for service’ with assistance of the shore crew.
A few hours later at 4.24pm, the crew pagers were once again activated for the second callout of the day after reports that a kayak with two persons onboard was struggling to return to the shore at Irvine.
Once again the lifeboat crew headed to the lifeboat station launching the all-weather and inshore lifeboats. The coastguard helicopter was returning from a separate incident at West Kilbride and was able to confirm the kayakers were safe but struggling to make headway.
The all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene and on speaking with the kayakers they accepted assistance from the inshore lifeboat to return them to the shore to the Ayr and Ardrossan coastguard teams.
With no further assistance required, both lifeboats returned back to Troon where they were once again made ‘ready for service’.
RNLI/TroonLifeboat
Troon RNLI inshore lifeboat in the wake of the all-weather lifeboat
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.
