RNLI rescue four after fog leaves them stranded

RNLI rescue four after fog leaves them stranded

7 May 2014

FOUR men have been rescued by Portaferry RNLI after beaching their boat in Strangford Lough due to thick fog.

Volunteer lifeboat crew were called out for the second day in a row last Tuesday after receiving a call from the men on board their small motorboat in Ballyhenry Bay.

The crew launched just seven minutes after receiving the 11.10pm call. The men said they had set out earlier in the evening and were attempting to make their way from Portaferry to Strangford.

At the time, sea conditions were calm with a slight breeze, however, visibility was extremely poor due to thick fog.

They had quickly become disorientated due to the fast tidal flow and the poor visibility due to the fog, which led to the beaching of their five meter power boat.

When the Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew arrived on scene, the power boat was refloated and the lifeboat escorted the four men in their power boat to the safety of Strangford harbour.