Lifejacket theft at Portaferry RNLI

Lifejacket theft at Portaferry RNLI

19 April 2017

AN RNLI lifejacket worth £458 has been stolen from Portaferry lifeboat station.

The lifejacket, a vital part of a volunteer crew member’s kit, is thought to have been stolen sometime between March 2 and April 10.

The unique lifejacket is designed specifically for search and rescue and is fitted with a water activated emergency light and integral flare pockets for day and night distress flares.

Brian Bailie, Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said the lifejacket is an expensive and essential piece of crew kit. 

“It was innovatively designed with search and rescue in mind which means it provides increased safety, efficiency and effectiveness for crew when they respond to a call out,” he said. 

“On top of its features, it also holds zipped pockets for items including casualty care kit, torches and gloves and has a spray hood to protect against sea spray.

“It will cost the RNLI almost £500 to replace this lifejacket which is a significant loss to the charity which relies on the public’s 

generosity to save lives at sea,” added Mr Bailie.

Anyone with any information is asked to get in touch with the PSNI by calling 101 and quoting CC2017041700737.