Emergency beacon leads lifeboat crews to NI dump

Belfast Coastguard tasked Lough Neagh Rescue as well as the Coast Guard helicopter 199 from Prestwick after the EPIRB Beacon was activated yesterday afternoon.

An EPIRB is a safety device carried by a vessel to alert search and rescue services, allowing them to quickly locate people in the event of an emergency. When activated it transmits a coded message on a distress frequency which is monitored by the Coastguard.

The CGOC Belfast Coastguard tasked the crews at 4.36pm on Thursday afternoon after the beacon was activated.

A Lough Neagh Rescue spokesperson said: “Lifeboats launched along with a shore team and carried out a search along the south of the lough and were soon joined by Coast Guard helicopter 199 from Prestwick

“The Helicopter pinpointed the signal to a waste disposal facility just outside Portadown.

“The Lough Neagh Coastguard Rescue Team proceeded to the location and carried out a search for the EPIRB but were unsuccessful in locating it.

“With no life in danger we returned returned to base and refuelled for next tasking

“Please dispose of EPIRB’s and PLB’s responsibly and don’t just simply throw in a bin.”

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