Enniskillen RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Ted Dawber was launched just after 3.30pm on Friday afternoon (15 May) at the request of Belfast Coastguard, following a report that a barge had run around at marker 55K at Rossigh Bay.
Conditions were cloudy with a light north-westerly wind as the volunteer crew made the short distance to the Rossigh area, located the casualty vessel and found the passenger onboard to be safe and well.
It was established that a marker had previously been damaged and marked with a red buoy, causing confusion with the entrance into the bay.
Due to the positioning of the barge and the surrounding environment, it was deemed safer to leave the vessel in its position and take the passenger to a nearby jetty where a friend was moored.
The anchor was deployed from the barge for extra security, and the position was passed to Belfast Coastguard. The crew and local coastguard team stayed with the passenger and assisted with arrangements to get the longboat refloated. The volunteer crew and lifeboat then returned to station.
Speaking following the call-out, lifeboat helm Stephen Ingram said: “The passenger did the right thing by phoning 999 and asking for coastguard. We were happy to assist. Thank you to those involved who came in support of the rescue.”
