Lough Neagh Rescue has been tasked by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to assist in an ongoing search for a missing person in the Portadown area, along the River Bann.
Our volunteers are responding and operating in coordination with Sky Watch NI, Search and Rescue Dog Association SARDA Ireland North, Community Rescue Service, Belfast Coastguard and the Coastguard helicopter based at Prestwick. Crews from all three stations are being deployed on the River Bann from dawn to dusk, carrying out coordinated search operations alongside our partner agencies.
We remain on call to assist where we can. Lough Neagh Rescue extends its sincere thoughts to the family and all those affected at this difficult time.


Update 27th December 2025:
Over the past number of weeks, Lough Neagh Rescue volunteers have been working alongside many others in the Portadown area. Crews from all three stations were regularly deployed, carrying out searches along the River Bann, the surrounding riverbanks and out towards the south shore of Lough Neagh. Our lifeboats launched from the Lough, while smaller vessels were used to cover further stretches of the river. Our teams also assisted Sky Watch NI by transporting their personnel and equipment to safe locations along the riverbank for take-off and drone operations.
Conditions were often demanding, with rising water levels, a much faster flow along the river and winds gusting up to 40mph. Our volunteers continued to give their time, energy and dedication throughout, including over the Christmas period. We are grateful to Crumlin Plant Sales Ltd for providing a state-of-the-art underwater device, which brought enhanced capability to the operation, and we sincerely thank the family for providing hot food and refreshments to our volunteer crews.
This search brought together a wide community of support. Multiple search and rescue teams worked side by side, with additional assistance from teams who travelled from outside Northern Ireland. We were also grateful for the help and information shared by local river users and members of the public, whose support and cooperation were greatly appreciated.
Sadly, on Saturday 27th December 2025, a body believed to be that of the missing person was located by an assisting search team who had travelled north to support the operation.
Our thoughts are firmly with the family, friends and everyone affected by this heartbreaking outcome. We would like to thank all volunteers, partner agencies and members of the local community who played a part in the search and offered support during what has been a very difficult time.