Two callouts in 24hours for Troon RNLI lifeboat crew
At 2.42pm on Wednesday 3 August 2022, the lifeboat crew were paged by Belfast Coastguard after reports from the crew aboard a 32ft motor vessel of damage to their hull in a position to the north west of Lady Isle.
Trent class all-weather lifeboat ‘RNLB Jim Moffat’ was launched to assist but the vessel was able to return to Troon under its own power with no assistance required so the lifeboat was stood down by the coastguard and made ‘Ready for Service’.
At 4.51am on Thursday 4 August 2022, the pagers of the crew were once again activated by Belfast Coastguard after reports of a missing person between Troon and Prestwick.
The volunteer crew made their way from their beds and launched Trent class all-weather lifeboat RNLB Jim Moffat and D class inshore lifeboat Sheena to join officers from Police Scotland, Ayr and Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Teams and the Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter, Rescue 199.
A search of the area was carried out by the teams on land, at sea and in the air but with nothing found the search was stood down by Belfast Coastguard pending any new information from the Police.
Both lifeboats then returned to Troon where they were made ‘Ready for Service’ shortly after 8am with the assistance of the shore crew. The crew were then able to return home where some went back to bed and others headed to their day jobs.
Since the Open Day on 16th July, the lifeboat crew have had a further 5 taskings to assist with possible swimmers in difficulty, paddleboarders drifting offshore and to assist the Police with missing person searches, but these have been cancelled prior to launching.
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.