Portrush RNLI was requested to launch by the coastguard at lunchtime on Sunday (4 October) to reports of kayakers in difficulty at White Rocks on Northern Ireland’s North Coast.
The two persons with their inflatable kayak had entered the water at the White Rocks but had started to drift towards Dunluce Castle. Friends on shore alerted the coastguard when they became concerned about their progress back to shore.
The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat The Ken Blair at 12.36pm and arrived on scene shortly before 1pm. Weather conditions were good, but there was an offshore south-westerly wind which had contributed to their lack of progress.
Once on scene, the lifeboat volunteers established that although the kayakers were tired, they were okay and were wearing lifejackets. The RNLI crew gave them advice about getting back to shore and monitored their progress.
Once back on shore, the kayakers were handed over to the waiting coastguard team. No casualty care was required.
Judy Nelson, lifeboat press officer said: “Although weather conditions were fair today, the wind conditions were against the kayakers, making it difficult for them to make progress back to shore.
“But they were wearing lifejackets and their friends did the right thing in alerting the coastguard, otherwise this could have been a different scenario.”
