05/07/2019

RNLI Rescue Group Of Five After Jet Ski Failure

An RNLI crew was deployed earlier this week after a group of five people became stranded on an island off the coast of County Down.

Three adults and two children were rescued "just on time" on Wednesday evening, 03 July, after getting into difficulty on the Copeland Islands, north of Donaghadee.

They had travelled out in the sunshine but later became stranded due to technical issues with their jet ski. A volunteer group was sent at 7pm after a member of the group made contact using a mobile phone.

The lifeboat then returned to Donaghadee Harbour where the casualties were passed to the care of the Coastguard.

Speaking following the call out, Philip McNamara, Donaghadee RNLI Coxswain said: "I feel we got to the casualties just on time, they were starting to feel the cold after spending quite sometime in the sunshine. They didn't have any water to hydrate or clothing to keep them warm.

"We would remind everyone of the importance of calling 999 if they are in difficulty at sea or on the coastline or if they see someone in trouble, that way the Coastguard can alert the appropriate search and rescue assets to launch. Always respect the water, always wear a lifejacket and always carry a means of communication."



(JG/CM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

17 August 2023
New EUROSPAR Opens In Newtownards
Henderson Retail has officially opened a new EUROSPAR Donaghadee Road in Newtownards. The opening is the latest in the company's ambitions to expand its supermarket portfolio with the EUROSPAR brand, having delivered community supermarket transformations in Killyleagh, Donaghmore, Dungannon, Holywood Road and Larne, in the past few months.
05 April 2017
Two Teens Rescued From Rocks In Co Down
Two teenage girls have been rescued after being trapped on rocks in Bangor, Co Down. It is believed they had been stuck on the rocks for a number of hours. Emergency services were alerted just after 9pm on Tuesday, 04 April. Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team, the Coastguard Helicopter and Bangor RNLI Lifeboat were deployed.
03 August 2015
Three Rescued After Boat Capsizes Off Calf Island
Three people have been rescued after their boat capsized off Calf Island, at the northern end of Strangford Lough on Sunday. The three men had been out on an 11ft Dory when it broke down and capsized leaving them to make their way to the nearby Calf Island and raise the alarm.
20 November 2024
Pharmacist Sentenced For Drug Offences
A 27-year-old pharmacist from Belfast has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service for unlawfully possessing and stealing controlled prescription drugs. Adam Hanna pleaded guilty to charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Theft Act 1969. The offences took place at a North Belfast pharmacy between January and March 2024.
25 November 2024
DfI Outlines Congestion Mitigation Measures In Belfast City Centre
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has announced a series of measures aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in Belfast City Centre. A strategic oversight group, comprising the DfI, Belfast City Council, PSNI, and Translink, has been formed to identify and implement effective solutions to reduce peak-time delays.