#RNLI - Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was launched last night (Thursday 2 August) to assist with the recovery of a man who had fallen from Elephant Rock into the sea at Ballintoy.
The volunteer crew launched the lifeboat at 6.45pm and arrived on scene at Ballintoy, some 17 miles east of Portrush, accompanied by the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, NI Ambulance Service and HM Coastguard. The Rescue 199 coastguard helicopter from Prestwick was also tasked.
The casualty was quickly located and the small inflatable Y boat was deployed from the all-weather lifeboat to the outcrop in order to assess his injuries.
The Y boat crew transferred the casualty onto a basket stretcher to prepare for evacuation back to the harbour, where he was transferred to the air ambulance and taken to hospital in Belfast.
Speaking following the callout, Portrush RNLI lifeboat operations manager Keith Gilmore said: “This was a classic operation for our volunteer lifeboat crew and something they train for on a regular basis.
“The crew work closely with the ambulance service, the helicopter pilots and the coastguard regularly to make sure we are ready for this sort of situation. It takes skill and patience to execute this type of manoeuvre but something they do with skill and expertise.
“We would like to wish the casualty a speedy recovery.”