Christmas Eve Callout for Girvan Lifeboat

At 15:45 on Christmas eve, Girvan lifeboat crews pagers sounded around the town.

On arrival at the lifeboat station, information from UK Coastguard Martime Operations Centre in Belfast was we were tasked to a small commercial vessel with a fouled prop and was incapacitated near Turnberry.

Making speedy progress North, our all-weather Shannon Class Lifeboat 'Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan' was soon on scene, with the vessel quite close to the rocks, the skipper informed us his mate was coming to tow him in.

While awaiting his friend to arrive and with the position the boat was in, after conversation with the skipper, the decision was made to tow the vessel off into safer and deeper water to await his friend, Belfast Coastguard confirmed this was fine.

The casualties friend arrived and took the casualty under tow back to Maidens, Girvan lifeboat continued to escort for a bit and then stood down and returned to station.

Lifeboat Operations Manager John Gourlay said " This is a testament to our crew here in Girvan and indeed all RNLI crews around the country, even on Christmas eve they are prepared to drop everything and answer that call."

If you see or believe someone to be in trouble at sea or along the coast, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard, even though its the festive season along with other emergency services colleagues and responders, we're always ready to answer that call.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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