Portaferry RNLI crew respond to two call outs on Sunday afternoon
Portaferry RNLI crew respond to two call outs on Sunday afternoon
Lifeboats News Release
Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew pagers sounded at 2.59pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19th July) after a 999 emergency call to the Coastguard reported a person in the water just north of Portaferry lifeboat station in Strangford Lough.
The inshore lifeboat, Blue Peter V, launched immediately with helm Chris Adair and crew members Chris Hannon and Scott Blackwood onboard. The lifeboat arrived on scene within minutes, by which time the casualty had made it ashore and was already in the care of Portaferry Coastguard team.
The boat returned to the station at 3.30pm and was washed and refuelled.
At 4.07pm the pagers sounded for the second time after the Coastguard was made aware of an 8m pleasure craft with 4 people onboard which had developed steering difficulties 5.5 miles east of the entrance of Strangford Lough, in the Irish Sea.
Blue Peter V was again launched promptly with helm Chris Adair and crew members Chris Jenkins, Chris Hannon and Scott Blackwood onboard.
Conditions at the time were a force 4 moderate north easterly breeze, clear sky with good visibility and a moderately choppy sea state.
Once on scene, the crew of the casualty vessel were seen to be well prepared and already using their emergency tiller.
The crew of the lifeboat stayed close by and escorted the vessel as she crossed Strangford Bar at which point the crew were happy to continue the rest of their journey without assistance.
Speaking after both call outs, Portaferry RNLI volunteer lifeboat helm, Chris Adair, said: 'Yesterday our volunteer crew responded to two 999 calls. Making an emergency call early is the right thing to do. We would always prefer to launch and find a casualty ashore than for the call not to have been made.
'Arriving with the casualty vessel on the second call out, it was good to find the crew well prepared and able to continue on their journey.
'We would remind anyone going out on the water to check the weather and tide times for your location before venturing out, and to ensure you are wearing a lifejacket or appropriate floatation device for your activity, and always carry a means of calling for help.
'We urge boat owners to check their vessel before and during the summer months. Check your VHF radio often, ensuring it is switched on and operational, and monitor channel 16 throughout your journey.
'If you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.'
A total of 11 volunteers responded to their pagers yesterday and we thank their places of employment, work colleagues, family and friends for allowing this to happen.
RNLI/Nicole O'Neill
Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew launching the stations Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat on Sunday afternoon
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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