Portrush Lifeboat answers over 30 calls and saves 33 people

The search and rescue operations saw 236 people brought safely to shore throughout the year by the nine volunteer lifeboat crews located across the region.

The annual statistics released by the charity last week show that of the figures, 111 services took place in darkness while crews collectively spent 2,193 service hours at sea.

Bangor was the busiest lifeboat station launching to 53 requests for help with the crew rescuing 53 people off the county Down coast. Enniskillen which operates two bases on Upper and Lower Lough Erne in county Fermanagh and which is the North’s only inland RNLI station, launched 46 times and brought 50 people to safety. Portrush launched 33 times and rescued 33 people.

It was also a busy year for the ten RNLI lifeguard units located on beaches in county Down and along the Causeway Coast, where lifeguards responded to 158 incidents and assisted 176 people who found themselves in difficulty.

The Causeway Coast where there are seven units located, was the busiest area, with the Portrush East lifeguards responding to 31 incidents and assisting 35 people.

The Benone unit attended 30 incidents and assisted 30 people while the Portrush West unit responded to 25 incidents and assisted 32 people.

Commenting on the 2012 statistics, Martyn Smith, RNLI Operations Manager for Ireland said: “The figures show that our volunteer lifeboat crew and our lifeguards dedicate a huge amount of their time to saving lives at sea and on inland waters.

“To know that they are on call every day of the year is reassuring for all of us who venture out to sea and on loughs.

“The RNLI lifeguard service has expanded to 10 beaches in Northern Ireland and with the support of the local authorities they have an active and welcome presence on many beaches.

“They do not just saves lives and assist those in trouble in the sea, but also provide information, advice and first aid when needed, ensuring many potential incidents are prevented.

“I would like to say a huge thank-you to all those who support the RNLI, a charity dependent on the generosity of the public, whether by giving up their time or by making a donation.”