
Busy few days for the Troon RNLI lifeboat crew volunteers.
The first call out came on Wednesday 13 December 2023 at 3.37pm when Belfast Coastguard paged the lifeboat crew to launch the RNLI inshore and all-weather lifeboats following reports of a person in the water at Ayr harbour.
Trent class all-weather lifeboat RNLB Jim Moffat and D class inshore lifeboat Sheena were soon launched and making best speed to Ayr to assist other emergency services including Ayr and Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Teams.
As the lifeboats arrived on scene, it was confirmed that the person was no longer in the water and was in the care of other emergency services so the lifeboats were able to return to Troon where they were made ‘ready for service.’
At 8.49pm on Friday 15 December, Troon RNLI inshore lifeboat was requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard after reports from the Police that a person may be in the water at Barassie. With the pagers activated, the volunteer crew began to make their way to the lifeboat station. As the crew were assembling, Belfast Coastguard updated the crew to cancel the launch as it was confirmed that the person was not in the water and no further assistance was required. With this information the crew were able to return home.
On Saturday 16 December, at 7.26pm, Belfast Coastguard once again paged the lifeboat crew to assist Police and Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team search for a missing person in the vicinity of Saltcoats.
With the crew kitted and the all-weather and inshore lifeboats leaving the harbour to assist, information came through that the person had been located by other emergency services on scene and the lifeboats could stand down. With this information, the lifeboats were able to return to station and were made ‘ready for service’.
At 11.39pm on Sunday 17 December, Belfast Coastguard activated the crew pagers at the request of Police Scotland to assist with a missing person search at Ayr Harbour. Due to weather conditions, D class inshore lifeboat Sheena was transported by road and the Trent class all-weather lifeboat RNLB Jim Moffat made its way by sea to assist Police and Coastguard teams.
Once again, as the lifeboats arrived on scene at Ayr, the missing person had been located and both lifeboats stood down and returned to station.
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, Twitter 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.