Busy weekend for RNLI

On Saturday morning they were tasked to the Giant’s Causeway to reports of a dog that had fallen off the cliffs. On Saturday afternoon the crew were again paged to reports of a missing child on Portstewart Beach. Fortunately the child was found just as the crew were setting off. Launch was subsequently stood down.

On Saturday night both the Inshore Boat (ILB) and the All weather Boat (ALB) were launched at 22.23 hours to reports of flares off the coast of Portrush. After an extensive search of the area it was established that these had been in fact Chinese lanterns and both crews returned to base.

Robin Cardwell Lifeboat Operations Manager said: “All of these incidents highlight fundamental lessons that the RNLI would wish to publicise; Always keep dogs on a lead when near cliffs and rocks, keep an eye on children on the beach and if you are planning to light Chinese lanterns, let the Coastguard and your local Lifeboat Station know so we don’t mistake them for flares indicating a vessel in distress.”

Robin went on to commend the quick turnout of the crews on all of the launches