Seven people were rescued from two vessels that ran aground on Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland on Saturday night (12 September).
Lifeboats and shore crew were quickly tasked by Belfast Coastguard to the scene at Coney Island, where the vessels were in just 1-2 feet of water.
Their position in the shallows — plus an onshore wind creating a lot of swell — made access difficult, according to Lough Neagh Rescue.
The team decided to carry out a lee shore rescue, with two crew entering the water to rig a tow on the first casualty vessel, with three on board. This boat was bright to safety in Maghery, east of Dungannon.
Next, Lough Neagh Rescue launched its swift water boat from the slip at Maghery to bring the four people on the other grounded vessel to safety.
With all seven back ashore, rescue crews returned to the grounded boat to try to remove it from the rocks — an effort that was eventually successful. Once refloated, the boat was taken under tow to safe mooring at Maghery.
Lough Neagh Rescue also launched last night (Sunday 13 September) to a broken-down vessel on the Blackwater River.
Two people on board the vessel, which was half-way between the Maghery and the M1 motorway bridge, were taken onto the lifeboat while a rescue team member set up a tow for the stricken vessel.
