Newcastle RNLI carry out search after inflatable spotted drifting out to sea

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore D class lifeboat at 6.35pm by Belfast Coastguard.

Weather at the time was very warm with clear skies, calm conditions and a slight westerly offshore breeze.

The lifeboat Cameronian, launched within minutes as some crew members were already at the station having just finished an education visit.

The lifeboat helmed by Locky Leneghan and with crew members Danni Curley and Ciaran Leneghan onboard, soon located a child’s inflatable half a mile offshore but as it was discovered unaccompanied, the crew quickly began a search of the area for a possible missing person.

As the search at sea was underway, members of Newcastle and Kilkeel Coastguard team undertook a shoreline search along the beach and spoke to members of the public to gather further information. At this point, information was gathered that the inflatable may have been there from earlier and drifted out to sea.

With an area search at sea completed and nothing untoward found, at the request of Belfast Coastguard the unaccompanied inflatable was brought ashore. Once assured that there was no one in trouble at sea, Belfast Coastguard stood down the search before 8pm.

Speaking following the call out, Newcastle RNLI Helm Locky Leneghan said: ‘This proved to be a false alarm with good intent, but the member of public did the right thing in raising the alarm when they thought someone was in difficulty. A thorough search was carried out by our volunteers and thankfully in this instance, no one was in difficulty.

‘We would remind everyone that while inflatables can be fun, they are designed for the pool and not the beach where they can they can be easily carried out to sea. If you do get into difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’

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