The volunteer lifeboat crew at Portaferry RNLI responded to a launch request this morning, Wednesday 3 May 2017, to go to the aid of five men and two women stranded on two adjacent islands on Strangford Lough.
The volunteer crew received the request at 11.00am and the RNLI Lifeboat, an inshore Atlantic 85, launched shortly after at 11.13am.
At the time of the launch, the weather was sunny with very good visibility, force three easterly wind and calm sea conditions.
The five men and two women had been on a six metre cabin cruiser on Strangford Lough County Down and three of the party had been put ashore on Green Island before the rest of the party left for neighbouring Salt Island.
At this stage the five people remaining on the cruiser started to experience electrical problems and decided to beach their craft on Salt Island.
The Portaferry Lifeboat crew arrived on scene at 11.22am and took on board the five people who were on Salt Island, taking them to Killyleagh before returning to Green Island where the volunteer lifeboat crew picked up the remaining three casualties and returned them also safely to land at Killyleagh County Down.
Commenting on today’s rescue, Brian Bailie, Lifeboat Operations Manager with Portaferry RNLI said: “Once again all the hard work and hours invested in training has paid off with a happy ending to today’s rescue.
“With the start of the good weather and more and more craft taking to the water, it is increasingly important that everyone respects the water and makes all the necessary checks before going out onto the water.”
