Flares fired for fun put lives at risk, RNLI warns

The RNLI has appealed for public co-operation and pointed out that pranks can put in jeopardy the lives of people who are in genuine distress at sea.

The all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparron was launched at 11.20pm on Christmas Day in response to a request from the Coastguard. Red flares had been reported on the shoreline around the FG Wilson factory.

RNLI said its investigations revealed that the person who called in the alert had indeed spotted three or four flares, but the lifeboat charity suspects they were let off on the cliffs at Seacourt.

“It appears that on this occasion the flares were let off on land,” said an RNLI spokesman.

“Red flares are distress signals and we would appeal to everyone to bear in mind that if a lifeboat crew is called out on a false alarm, the lives of people who are genuinely in trouble at sea could be put at risk,” he added.

RNLI volunteers were at sea again in both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats at 1.00pm on Boxing Day, after a report that a 40ft motorboat, with one man on board, was taking in water at Muck Island.

The inshore crew was stood down after it was established the vessel’s bilge pumps were coping. A crew member from the Dr John McSparron transferred to the stricken craft, which was escorted to Bangor marina.