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Lifeboat crew stood down before launch.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following a call for assistance by 2 kayakers who had made their way onto Island Taggart, Strangford Lough, reporting that 6 other persons were in difficulty.

H M Coastguard search and rescue teams tasked from Portaferry and Bangor.  Tasked also were the H M Coastguard SAR helicopter R199 from Prestwick, the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance Helicopter, an ambulance Incident Response Unit and paramedics.

On arrival on scene off Don O'Neill Island at 10:53 the Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded North and quickly located a green hulled Canadian style canoe with 3 persons on board which had taken on water with another person in the water holding on to the canoe.   

Photo: RNLI - Jordan Conway LPO

After recovering the 4 canoeists the lifeboat proceeded to Don O'Neill Island where a lifeboat crew member went ashore to assist 2 kayakers on the island in boarding the lifeboat.

Photo: RNLI - Jordan Conway LPO

All 6 casualties were then taken by the lifeboat to safety ashore at Killyleagh where HM Coastguards were in attendance with paramedics and ambulance crews.

Portaferry Lifeboat then proceeded to Island Taggart to stand off whilst the HM Coastguard SAR helicopter R199 airlifted 2 persons to a landing site at Killyleagh where they were handed into the care of an air ambulance medical team.

Photo: Portaferry Coastguard Search & Rescue Team

Following medical assessment of all 8 casualties none required further medical assistance.

Photo: Portaferry Coastguard Search & Rescue Team

Portaferry Lifeboat subsequently returned to recover 2 Canadian style canoes, 2 kayaks and some personal belongings left on Don O'Neill Island by two of the casualties before standing down and returning to station.

6 May 2020 @ 12:28
Shout No.4

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following reports of a person in the water clinging to a small craft at Greyabbey Bay, Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Coastguard rescue team and Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter R116 also tasked.

Whilst the lifeboat was off the lateral marks at Kircubbin Bay on passage to the casualty reports were received that the person had made their own way to safety ashore.  

Helicopter R116 stood down.

Portaferry Lifeboat stood down and returned to station.

Note - later in the afternoon reports were also recieved by Belfast CGOC of a person in the water in Cloughey Bay after their kayak had sunk.  Donaghadee and Portaferry Lifeboats requested to launch at 14:33 and Coast Guard helicopter R116 also tasked. Following the arrival on scene of Portaferry Coastguard rescue team it was ascertained that the casualty was safely ashore and the launch of Portaferry Lifeboat and tasking of rescue helicopter R116 were cancelled.

Donaghadee Lifeboat, already on passage, arrived on scene and on ascertaining that all persons were safe ashore returned to station.

Report received by Belfast CGOC that a windsurfer might be in difficulty South of Greyabbey, Strangford Lough.

Lifeboat crew stood down and lifeboat launch aborted following confirmation by Belfast CGOC that the windsurfer had made their own way to safely ashore,

Report received by Belfast CGOC of a broken-down jetski with 2 persons on board off Cloughey and now drifting approximately 2NM out to sea with a kayker who had gone to their assistance.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and proceeded to the reported casualty position.

On arrival on-scene 3 persons were recovered from the water by the lifeboat crew and taken to safety ashore where coastguards from Bangor and Portaferry were in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

21 June 2020 @ 21:13
Shout No.9

Reports received by Belfast CGOC of the sighting of what appeared to be the hull of an up-turned boat approximately 1NM off the County Down coast, near Ardglass. Urgency PAN PAN messages broadcast by Belfast GCOC.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and proceeded to the search area.  Coastguard SAR helicopter Rescue-199 tasked from Prestwick.  Newcastle Coastguard shore rescue team tasked.

On arrival in the search area Portaferry Lifeboat crew commenced a search and following visual assistance by coastguards and others from ashore the lifeboat crew located the rermains of a whale of approximately 4m in length.  Rescue-199 on passage to the area was then stood down.

Following the lifeboat crew conveyed the Lat/Long position of the deceased whale to Belfast CGOC for retransmission as a potential navigational hazard, Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

25 June 2020 @ 17:04
Shout No.10

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report of a 21ft boat with engine failure in a position East of the Strangford Bar Bouy.

On arrival with the casualty vessel, which had been able to anchor, the lifeboat crew secured a tow line and the vessel was taken under tow to Portaferry Marina where coastguards were in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

27June 2020 @ 17:04
Shout No.11

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following a request for assistance from a 7m RHIB with engine failure and drifting towards Angus Rock at the entrance to Strangford Lough. 3 persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat crew located the casualty vessel close to Angus Rock.  Vessel taken under tow to Portaferry Marina where 3 persons were landed to safety ashore with coastguards in attendance to assist.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

Portaferry Lifeboat requested to launch by Belfast CGOC following a request for assistance by kaykers on Salt Island, Strangford Lough, and unable to leave the island safely due to increasingly poor sea conditions in strong to gale force winds.

Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to Salt Island and took 9 kayakers to safety ashore at Quoile Yacht Club.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast GGOC following a request for assistance from a 7m angling boat with engine problems but able to anchor off Tara, South of Kearney Point. 4 persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to the casualty position and on arrival on scene the lifeboat crew secured a tow-line to the casualty vessel.

Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to Portaferry Marina with the casualty vessel under tow and on arrival 4 persons were landed to safety ashore with coastguards in attendance to assist.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to Station.

Photo: Portaferry Coastguard rescue team

2 August 2020 @ 13:59
Shout No.14

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report of a person missing off Cloughey in a small sailing vessel.

Donaghadee Lifeboat and Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team also tasked.

Following a report by coastguards that the missing person was safely ashore Portaferry and Donaghadee lifeboats which were on passage to the area were stood down and returned to their stations.

4 August 2020 @ 11:39
Shout No.15

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report of a car in the water at Strangford Quay.

On arrival at Strangford Quay the lifeboat crew immediately commenced working to support members of the public to rescue any casualties from the vehicle.  A male casualty was subsequently recovered from the water and taken on board the lifeboat before being transferred into the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service at Strangford.

Following the casualty being recovered from the water a search for any other missing persons was commenced by Portaferry Lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199.

When it was ascertained that no other persons were missing, Portaferry Lifeboat and the CG Rescue Helicopter 199 were stood down.

The casualty, who had been transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital, was later pronounced deceased. (The person taken from the water was later named as Mr Brian Black.)

A number of agencies and persons involved in the rescue operation included the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, the PSNI, HM Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 119, the Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team and members of the public including an off duty paramedic.

Following the rescue attempt, Philip Johnston, Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, issued a statement - ‘On behalf of all the volunteers at Portaferry RNLI, we would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of Brian Black. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.’

Portaferry Lifeboat launched at the request of Belfast CGOC following reports from members of the public who heard shouts for help from a kayker in the water in the proximity of the Walter Rock.

On arrival of the lifeboat on-scene the volunteer lifeboat crew were assisted by the public in quickly located the casualty who was still in the water and who had been clinging onto his kayak for over 15 minutes.

After taking the kayaker on board the lifeboat it proceeded to the ferry slipway at Portaferry where the casualty was landed to safety ashore and into the care of the Portaferry and Bangor coastguard rescue teams and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched at the request of CGOC Belfast following reports that a 7m yacht with 3 persons on board had reported engine difficulties whilst on passage in the Strangford Narrows. Casualty vessel located aground at Rue Point by Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team.

On arrival of the Portaferry Lifeboat with the casualty vessel a tow line was established and the vessel was taken to Strangford Quay where 3 persons were landed to safety ashore.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.