Three Northern Ireland RNLI Lifeboats Help in Multi-Agency Search for Paddeboarder

12th November 2021

Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat - in search for paddleboarder Credit: Margaret Ramm

Three RNLI Lifeboat’s from Bangor, Donaghadee and Larne were today involved with a multi-agency search with two Coastguard helicopters, Lagan Search and Rescue, PSNI Boat and local Coastguard Rescue Teams.

After reports of a paddleboarder overdue at Helen’s Bay, Belfast Coastguard requested the volunteer crew members from Bangor inshore lifeboat to launch at 3.43 pm followed by the two all-weather lifeboats from Donaghadee and Larne at 4.24pm.

The three lifeboats liaised with Belfast Coastguard and the other rescue agencies to form search patterns in order to locate the missing paddleboarder.

The visibility was good albeit light was being lost, conditions were challenging out at sea with a west to north-west wind force 6 – 8 at times.

Search teams were stood down just before 6 pm when clarification was received that the suspected casualty was safe and well.

Margaret Ramm, Donaghadee Lifeboat Press Officer commented ‘ We were relieved to hear that this was a false alarm with good intent, that the paddleboarder had been located and was not in any danger. Conditions today were challenging enough and if there had been a person in the water time really was of the essence in order to prevent loss of life, always contact the emergency services as early as possible if you are worried. As always we recommend checking sea conditions and wind direction before going into the sea and carrying a means of contacting shore, and always be aware of your own capabilities.’

Published in RNLI Lifeboats, Northern Ireland Waters

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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RNLI

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Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset

How can one support the RNLI?

While the RNLI is dependent on donations and legacies for funding, they also need volunteer crew and fund-raisers.

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