Enniskillen RNLI volunteers assisted two people after their boat ran aground in thick fog on Lower Lough Erne on Sunday, 8 November.
The station's inshore lifeboat, John and Jean Lewis, launched at 4 pm after Belfast Coastguard requested assistance when a vessel got into difficulty near navigation marker 49A.
With virtually no visibility and no wind, the volunteer crew proceeded cautiously through the dense fog to search for the stranded boat.
As they approached, the lifeboat crew shouted to attract the attention of those aboard. The stranded vessel sounded its horn, allowing the rescuers to pinpoint its position.
Once alongside, the crew established that both people aboard were safe and well. A lifeboat volunteer then boarded the grounded vessel to assist with its recovery.
After assessing the situation, the lifeboat helm decided that the safest course of action was to tow the boat into deeper water. The crew member aboard the casualty vessel then helped guide it towards a nearby jetty, following the lifeboat's navigation lights through the fog.
Speaking after the call-out, Stephen Ingram, volunteer lifeboat helm at Enniskillen RNLI, said, "The weather conditions were extremely challenging, with the fog sweeping in so quickly, and we were pleased to have provided assistance under such difficult circumstances."
He urged boat users to plan their routes carefully, consult the relevant navigation charts and check that navigation marks on the water correspond with those shown on their charts. He also reminded boaters to carry a reliable means of calling for assistance and ensure that lifejackets are available for everyone aboard.
Anyone who encounters difficulty on the water, or sees someone else in trouble, should call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
