Saint Patrick’s Day rescue for RNLI Bangor lifeboat

Date: 17/03/2010

Author: Kevin Baird, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer

RNLI Bangor Lifeboat launched at 4.25 pm on St Patrick’s Day – Wednesday 17 March 2010 to assist an exhausted, cold sailor onboard a 14ft open dinghy which had capsized while sailing in Ballyholme Bay which is on the southern shores of Belfast Lough.

Belfast Coastguard requested RNLI Bangor Lifeboat to launch after receiving a 999 call from a member of the public. Apparently a small dinghy had capsized a number of times and the person on board was seen to be in distress. The rigging on the dinghy had failed and the unlucky sailor was adrift with no means of getting to the shore.

 

Ballyholme Bay

Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, volunteer crew had assembled and launched Bangor Lifeboat. Calm weather conditions allowed the RNLI lifeboat to proceed at full speed to Ballyholme Bay. The sailor was quickly located and transferred to lifeboat where he was placed into a survival bag. A tow line was rigged and the vessel was towed to the slipway at Ballyholme. The sailor was landed safely ashore into the care of waiting coastguards.

RNLI volunteer crew member Peter Semple who was involved in this rescue said:

‘We urge everyone going afloat to make sure they have some means of calling for assistance in the event of an emergency’. He added, ‘we are glad that this person is now safely ashore.’

RNLI Bangor Lifeboat provides a 24-hour on call rescue service dedicated to saving lives at sea.

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RNLI media contacts For more information please telephone Kevin Baird, Bangor RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07896702757 or kbaird@quaymarinas.com or Niamh Stephenson Media Relations Manager Ireland on 00 353 871254124 or nstephenson@rnli.org.uk or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789