Coastguards warn of inflatables danger

COASTGUARDS have said that three young adults, rescued on Sunday evening from a drifting inflatable, had a lucky escape.

The alarm was raised shortly after 6.30pm when Coastguards received a 999 call from a concerned member of the public who could see the three heading towards the Skerries from Portrush.

Coastguards immediately alerted both Portrush Lifeboats and a Coastguard Response Vehicle was dispatched to the scene. The inflatable craft was quickly spotted by the crew of the Inshore Lifeboat who managed to attach a towline to it and transfer the occupants.

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They were then safely landed at the East Strand and handed over to waiting Coastguards who explained to them just how fortunate they had been.

The three casualties, all Polish nationals living in the Ballymena area, thanked the rescue services for coming to their assistance.

Coleraine Coastguard Station Officer Chris Little said: "The casualties were completely unaware of the danger they were in. Their dinghy was totally unsuitable for the open sea and none of them was wearing a lifejacket.

"They were also oblivious to the fact that their inflatable was being carried ever further out to sea by the strengthening wind and tide. When the lifeboat crew reached them they had almost reached the Skerries. If their flimsy dinghy had overturned, they could easily have drowned."

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