Larne lifeboat crew praised for rescue record
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
NEW Figures released this week by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) show that over the last year the volunteers of the Larne lifeboat service rescued 19 people from the sea.
The statistics show that the two lifeboats based at Larne were launched 21 times over the last 12 months.
East Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs Jnr paid tribute to the volunteers of the Larne lifeboat service.
Mr Beggs said: "I am sure the whole community has great admiration for the volunteers who risk their own lives in manning the lifeboats and facing the perils of the sea to come to the assistance of others who may be in danger.
“The recent statistics indicate that 19 people have been rescued which shows why the public need to give moral and financial support to ensure the lifeboat service continues to be maintained at the highest possible standard."
RNLI vessels based at the nine lifeboat stations in Northern Ireland launched 272 times and rescued 261 people over the year. There was an increase of 38 percent in the number of emergency launches last year compared with the previous year.
The main Larne lifeboat, the Trent class Dr John McSparran, came to the station in 2000. The Larne lifeboat station also has a D class fast response lifeboat, the Hannahbella Ferguson.
Last October RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews from Larne held a joint exercise with the Royal Navy helicopter crew from Prestwick in Scotland off the North Antrim Coast. The purpose of the exercise was to provide life saving training for all the volunteer lifeboat crews and the Royal Navy.
Also in October amid heavy rain and high winds the local crew rescued two anglers marooned on rocks close to the Black Arch on the Antrim Coast Road using the fast response vessel the Hannahbella Ferguson.
The RNLI released the Northern Ireland rescue statistics as it prepared for SOS day which is this Friday 29 January - the charity's biggest annual fundraising day.
Events are being organised around the province to raise funds to ensure that the charity can continue to provide the training and equipment for its volunteer lifeboat crews as they save lives at sea and on inland waters.
The busiest lifeboat station in Northern Ireland was Bangor with 55 launches and 69 people rescued.
This was followed by the RNLI's inland stations on Lough Erne in Enniskillen which launched 51 times and rescued 67 people. Portrush followed with 40 callouts bringing 11 people to safety.
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