The week began last Monday afternoon when a Scottish visitor to the Giant’s Causeway was rescued after falling approximately ten feet at the main Causeway.

The alarm was raised shortly after 2pm when Belfast Coastguard received a 999 call saying that a woman had been injured at the Causeway.

She was given emergency treatment at the scene by ambulance paramedics and by a BASICS doctor. She was stretchered to safety across the rocks by a Coastguard rescue team from Coleraine.

A Coastguard spokesman said that this had been a very successful joint operation, requiring skilful co-operation between the various agencies involved.

And they were in action later that day at Portstewart Strand.

Following the incident which involved two youths, Coastguards again warned bathers of the dangers of rip currents following a serious incident on Portstewart Strand.

The incident occurred shortly after 4pm, when lifeguards at the beach were informed that two teenagers were in difficulties in the water further along the beach.

The lifeguards immediately called for Coastguard assistance and a response vehicle was dispatched from Coleraine.

As Coastguards arrived on scene, two of the lifeguards managed to reach the distressed swimmers, who had been carried into deeper water by a rip current. Both girls had been bodyboarding when one of them had got into difficulties; her friend had stayed with her in a desperate effort to keep her afloat.

The strength of the current was such that the lifeguards decided it would be safer to land the casualties further along the coast, on the beach below the site of the former Edgewater Hotel.

The rescued teenagers were given immediate first aid treatment by Coastguard personnel, who also arranged for paramedic ambulance assistance. Both were taken to the Causeway Hospital.

Station Officer Chris Little said, “Rip currents are dangerous, fast-flowing areas of water which will quickly carry the unwary out to sea. We would urge all those going into the water to be very careful, and to heed any warning signs. The safest area on any beach is that patrolled by lifeguards.”

At the weekend, Coastguards praised the vigilance of all those callers who contacted them following sightings of a capsized sailing dinghy off Portstewart on Sunday afternoon.

The dinghy had capsized near the rocks at Dominican College, throwing two men into the water.

A Coastguard rescue team, which had been exercising on Ramore Head, was quickly on the scene, along with the Inshore Lifeboat, which had battled through very choppy sea conditions.

A rapid search of the area established that both occupants of the dinghy had managed to right their craft and sail back to Portstewart Strand.

Both men were completely oblivious to the alarm which had been raised, but told Coastguards that they were very grateful that so many people had been concerned for their welfare.