Red Bay RNLI launched their B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat at 9.20 am this morning (Saturday 24 April) after reports that a small fishing boat with three crew onboard was grounded on rocks one mile south of Glenarm Marina on the Antrim Coast. Glenarm is about 14 miles south of Red Bay.
Red Bay RNLI operates out of Cushendall at the foot of the table topped Lurigethan Mountain and at the meeting point of three of the Glens of Antrim; Glenaan, Glenballyemon and Glencorp. The Mull of Kintyre in Scotland is only 16 miles away across the North Channel.
In a strong easterly wind and choppy waters, the lifeboat crew were on the scene in twenty minutes and all three men were safely rescued from the craft and brought ashore.
On arrival at the scene the lifeboat crew saw the vessel stuck fast on the rocks and with visible damage to its hull. Deciding it would be too dangerous to move the vessel and with the tide dropping, the decision was taken to evacuate the crew off their vessel. Two lifeboat crew swam ashore and with the assistance of Ballycastle and Larne shore-based Coastguard units, two men were safely taken off the boat. The third man needed the aid of a stretcher and the agencies worked together to safely move him.
Commenting on the callout Red Bay RNLI Helm Connor McLaughlin said, "The fishing vessel was stuck fast on the rocky coastline and the crew were unable to move. With the tide dropping fast and visible damage to the vessel, we needed to bring them to safety as quickly as possible. Working with the local coastguard agencies, two of our crew swam to shore and brought all three of the men to safety, with one needing a stretcher to be evacuated off the small craft. The weather can turn in an instant and it's important to take note of tide times. Thankfully, all of the men were wearing lifejackets and the outcomes was a successful one".
