Lifeboats tasked by Belfast Coastguard at 17:16 to assist a 22ft sailing yacht with three people onboard, stranded north of Padian Island. The vessel was hard aground on a rocky shoreline, the engine had failed, and it was being buffeted by force 4 westerly winds.

Our lifeboat launched swiftly, carefully navigating the tricky shallow waters around Padian Island in rough conditions. A tow line was secured, pulling the stricken yacht into deeper water where a long tow was established. One of our lifeboat crew members remained onboard with the passengers, ensuring their safety, while the yacht and its crew were towed safely back to the safer waters of Kinnego Marina.

But the evening didn’t stop there. While refuelling and preparing the lifeboat for possible re-tasking, our crew faced another emergency: A member of the public who was not involved in the original call-out, had fallen from the main jetty at Kinnego into deep water.
Recognising the danger and without hesitation, one of our volunteer crew members reacted instantly, pulling the individual from the water to safety. Thankfully, everyone was safe and well thanks to our crew member’s swift actions.

Callouts can be physically and mentally demanding for our crews, and we are immensely proud of our volunteers for their courage, quick thinking, and dedication, whether out on the Lough Neagh or responding in the moment onshore.
We’d like to remind everyone to be always extra vigilant and aware of their safety around water, whether walking on jetties or boating on the Lough because things can change in an instant.