Eight rescued on Strangford Lough

Eight rescued on Strangford Lough

10 May 2017

EIGHT people were rescued from two islands in Strangford Lough last week after a cabin cruiser got into difficulties.

Portaferry lifeboat went to the aid of the people on Wednesday morning after being told five men and three women had become stranded.

Belfast Coastguard asked the lifeboat to launch at 11am after receiving a call that the six metre cabin cruiser had got into difficulties.

Three of the party on the cruiser had been put ashore on Green Island before the rest left for the 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 to pick up the remaining three casualties.

Brian Bailie, Lifeboat Operations Manager with Portaferry RNLI said once again all the hard work and hours invested in training had paid off.

The following evening the lifeboat was in action again, responding to a yacht with a crew of five. A 

bystander on the shore reported at 8.40 that the yacht appeared in difficulty just north of Dunnyneill Island.

The lifeboat arrived with the yacht at 8.52 and while the crew had experienced some heavy going in the force six wind, was not in any danger. The lifeboat escorted the yacht into Ringhaddy Sound.