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Portaferry RNLI crew rescue 2 people after mayday call is received from yacht

Lifeboats News Release

Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew pagers sounded at 4.11pm yesterday afternoon (Saturday 15th August) after Belfast Coastguard received a mayday call from a yacht with 2 people onboard which had run aground on Rock Angus at the mouth of Strangford Lough.

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The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, Blue Peter V, launched with helm Oliver Rogers, and volunteer crew members James O'Neill, Molly Crowe and Paul Regan onboard.

Conditions at the time were a force 3 gentle north-easterly breeze, cloudy with good visibility and a smooth sea state.

Once on scene the yacht was observed to be hard aground on rocks with a dropping tide. The lifeboat crew made contact and found both persons onboard to be well, and after a cautious approach, both were taken onboard the lifeboat and returned to the safety of Portaferry marina where they were handed over to the care of Portaferry Coastguard.

Speaking after the call out, Portaferry RNLI volunteer helm, Oliver Rogers said: 'A mayday call is the most serious distress call used at sea and indicates a sailor in imminent danger. The crew of the casualty vessel did the correct thing by calling for help as soon as they got into difficulty.

'The waters at the mouth of Strangford Lough are fast moving and unpredictable and once we knew the crew were no longer in immediate danger, we could take our time and make safe passage to where we could get both casualties onto the lifeboat.

'We urge anyone heading out on the water to check weather and tide times before setting off. Wear a suitable flotation device for your activity and always carry a means of calling for help.

'If you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.'

Yesterday eight volunteers responded to their pagers and we offer congratulations to Paul Regan on his first call out since passing out as inshore lifeboat crew.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Lissa McCully, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Ireland, [email protected]

Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Ireland, 087 648 3547, [email protected]

Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Ireland, 087 125 4124, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok 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.

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