Bangor RNLI responds to false alarm with good intent

The volunteer crew were requested by HM Coastguard following a report from a concerned member of the public who raised the alarm when they saw a swimmer in difficulty climbing on to the rocks off Skippingstone Bay.

At 5.55pm, the four person crew launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Jessie Hillyard. The visibility was quite good with some light rain. The sea was quite choppy as it was a windy evening.

The crew conducted a search of the area around Seacourt and Skippingstone and located the swimmer ashore. The crew made contact with the person to established that they were in good health and all was well.

Speaking following the call out, Kevin Baird, Bangor RNLI Launch Authority said: ‘We want to thank the vigilant member of the public who raised the alarm out of genuine concern. We would urge anyone who is concerned for someone's safety to always ring either 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. We would rather launch to a false alarm and find all is well than not launch at all.'

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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