Busy weekend for Portrush Volunteer Lifeboat crews

They had four callouts in two days, with the only female crew member Claudia McAlpin getting her first service.

On Saturday afternoon the all-weather boat was launched following reports of a vessel on the rocks at Glengad near Malin Head.

The boat was turned back however as colleagues in Greencastle launched at the same time and were able to carry out the service.

The all-weather boat was on service again on Saturday at 9.30pm after a boat got into mechanical difficulties eight miles north of Rathlin Island. The lifeboat crews located the boat and towed it back to base at Portrush.

At the same time on Saturday night the Inshore Lifeboat went out on service to reports of a boat in mechanical difficulties off Portstewart head. Again crews located the boat and towed back to Portrush.

On Sunday the Inshore Lifeboat was launched again to assist with a boat that had been swamped by a wave at the Barmouth.The RNLI Lifeguards did a great job in responding on this occasion.

Robin Cardwell, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Portrush Lifeboat Station, said: “This is what our crews train for all the time to respond to people who need our help at sea.

“No matter how experienced you may be the unexpected can happen and that’s what we are there for. I am delighted that Claudia has experienced her first service and she did a great job.”