Kayakers rescued after getting into difficulty

Kayakers rescued after getting into difficulty

28 August 2024

LIFEBOAT and Coastguard volunteers were involved in an incident on Strangford Lough at the weekend after a group of kayakers got in trouble.

The six, three adults and three children, left Killyleagh on Saturday evening and spent the night on a bothy on nearby Salt Island.

However, when the group left the island around lunchtime today they got onto difficulties in strong winds and were blown onto a nearby pladdy.

A local man who was out walking his dog in Killyleagh spotted the group and called the Coastguard.

The Coastguard Operations Centre in Bangor contacted Portaferry lifeboat along with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Newcastle and Portaferry.

The lifeboat negotiated shallow water and reached the group, taking two casualties on board. They were taken to Killyleagh Yacht Club and handed over to the Newcastle Coastguards.

By the time the lifeboat returned to the other casualties the tide had ped sufficiently to prevent the RNLI from reaching them.

It was decided that the kayakers would return to the water and drift south past Green Island to deeper water where they were met by the lifeboat.

The four were then taken to the yacht club, cold but not requiring medical attention.

Portaferry RNLI helm Chris Adair said afterwards: “This call-out was made more challenging given the conditions we faced but we were delighted to get all six kayakers ashore safely and we wish them well. 

“We commend the member of the public for raising the alarm. His quick thinking really made a difference today.

“We would always ask the public to make that call immediately if they think someone is in difficulty. We would rather launch the lifeboat and find everyone is OK, than not launch at all. 

Chris continued: “We would always recommend checking the weather and tides before planning a trip.

“Both the weather and water can be unpredictable and we would recommend making sure you prepare yourself with a means of calling for help if something unplanned happens. 

“As demonstrated today, if you are in trouble or see someone who may be in difficulty on the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”