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Portpatrick RNLI responds to vehicle reported at bottom of cliffs
Portpatrick RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat 13-25 was launched on Saturday 25 July after Belfast Coastguard received reports of a vehicle at the bottom of the cliffs near the Mull of Galloway.
The volunteer crew was paged at 12:50pm and made best speed to the reported location. On arrival, the vehicle was quickly located; however, due to the nature of the shoreline and the prevailing sea conditions, the Shannon class lifeboat Stella and Humfrey Berkley was unable to safely get close enough to carry out a detailed inspection.
To assist, Stranraer RNLI Lifeboat was requested by Belfast Coastguard. Despite the challenging conditions, the Stranraer crew successfully reached the vehicle and carried out a thorough search. Much to everyone’s relief, it was confirmed that there was nobody inside the vehicle and there was no threat to life.
Following confirmation that no further assistance was required, both lifeboats were stood down and returned to their respective stations.
The incident demonstrated the value of a coordinated multi-agency response involving HM Coastguard, Police Scotland, Portpatrick RNLI, and Stranraer RNLI, with all agencies working together to ensure the report was investigated quickly and safely.
Portpatrick RNLI would also like to thank the member of the public who raised the alarm. Reports such as these are vital and should never be ignored. If you ever see someone or something that causes concern along the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. It is always better to report a concern and allow the emergency services to investigate.
Coxswain Simon Bage said:
'I’d like to thank all the supporting agencies who assisted with the incident. It was a great example of how well everyone works together when responding to reports where there could be a risk to life.
'Special thanks go to the crew of Stranraer RNLI, who battled challenging conditions to reach the vehicle and confirm that nobody was inside.
'I’m incredibly proud of the crew here at Portpatrick. Faced with what could have been a very serious incident, they rose to the challenge and showed resilience, compassion and professionalism throughout. It’s a privilege to be part of such a dedicated team.”
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Amanda Farley, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Portpatrick RNLI, [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [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.
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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.