Busy day for Newcastle Coastguard

Busy day for Newcastle Coastguard

30 July 2025

MEMBERS of Newcastle Coastguard responded to two emergency calls last week.

Just after 5.15pm last Thursday — which is the organisation’s training night —  the team was tasked to set up a helicopter landing site at Donard Park and assist the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team with the transfer of a casualty from a helicopter. 

The Prestwick-based Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 199, travelled to the Mournes to airlift a casualty who had sustained a leg injury while hiking.

The helicopter was met by members of the Coastguard and mountain rescue team and the casualty was transferred to the mountain rescue team base to wait for an ambulance. 

Kilkeel Coastguard team also took part in the call out.

The second call out occurred at 10.15pm after reports that a casualty was in difficulty in the sea close to Down's Road.

The person was helped from the water by a passerby and treated by paramedics, while Newcastle RNLI launched its inshore Eliza lifeboat, with local police and Kilkeel Coastguard also on scene.

The call out was co-ordinated by Belfast Coastguard Operations Centre. 

Last Thursday evening’s call outs bookended a training event run by senior Coastguard Operations Officer Ed Rusk. 

The scenario involved multiple casualties and saw team members using the Ten Second Triage diagnostic system, with thanks to Newcastle RNLI members who were very realistic casualties.