HMGC paged Lough Neagh Rescue @ 18:30 to put all boats on standby as a inbound commercial aircraft on its way from Glasgow to Belfast City Airport was being diverted to Belfast International airport due to an engine fire. All crew and boats where but on immediate standby. Thankfully the aircraft landed safely and all 88 passengers where evacuated from the aircraft with no reported injuries. All lifeboats where stood down at 19:00 hrs.

HMGC tasked Lough Neagh Rescue @ 12:35pm to Antrim Bay / Six Mile Water to search for a missing man last seen in the Six Mile Water vicinity. Both Ardboe and Kinnego lifeboats along with the assistance of the new Antrim rescue team conducted a search for man. Over 30 crew searched the water and nearby lake for a number of hours. Soon after the search was called of as the man had be found safe and well. All lifeboats returned to base.

HMCG paged LNR @ 04.50am and tasked both Ardboe & Kinnego lifeboats to an incident on Coney Island were it was believed to be in excess of 20 persons stranded on the island as there ferrying vessel had left and hadn’t returned. Ardboe Lifeboat first on scene established there was over 30 people on the island many of which had tents to keep themselves warm and dry but at least 11 persons were very cold and fatigued. Both lifeboats ferried casualties to shore at Maghery and handed them into the care of Lough Neagh coastguard team. Both vessels returned to base. 06.30 hrs.

HMCG paged LNR @ 10.19am and tasked Ardboe lifeboat to a broken down 12 ft vessel with 2 casualties & 2 dogs on board whom left Coney Island on route to the Upper Bann river. Ardboe lifeboat quickly on scene couldn’t see the casualty vessel immediately and expanded their search. The vessel was then spotted approx 1/2 mile NE drifting after it had struck rocks at Reedy Flat. The 2 casualties and dogs were transferred to ALB & vessel secured for tow. They made their way to Maghery slip were they were met and handed into the care of the Lough Neagh Coastguard team. Our crew also assisted in the vessel recovery onto dry land.

HMCG paged LNR at around 03:50am this morning to a report via a 999 call of a vessel reporting that they were lost on the Lough with five persons on board. LNR Lifeboats from Kinnego and Ardboe launched to conduct a full search of the lough. Shortly after the search began the police helicopter spotted a vessel in the Antrim Bay area and directed Ardboe lifeboat to its location. The casualties were found and transferred to Ardboe lifeboat. Both the casualties and their vessel were brought back to shore safely into the care of the Lough Neagh Coastguard team. The casualty vessel had been lost for some time before the alarm was raised. We thank all involved for such a quick multi-agency response. Both boats stood down and returned to base.

HMGC paged LNR at 6.50pm to a 21ft yacht with 6 persons on board which had ran aground in the vicinity of Gawleys Gate. Both Lifeboats from Ardboe and Kinnego attended to the yacht. 5 of the yacht crew were transferred onto the Ardboe lifeboat while Kinnego lifeboat established a tow line and with a short tow managed to free the vessel with the skipper on board to a safe berth. All 6 casualties were handed into the care of the Lough Neagh Coastguard team which was on scene. Both lifeboats returned to base.

HMGC paged LNR at 16:46 to a report of a drifting vessel with 5 persons onboard near Ballyronan which was on passage from Rams Island .Ardboe Lifeboat quickly launched and after a quick sweep approx 2 miles SE of Ballyronan Marina they spotted a yacht with no sails up drifting. On investigation this was the casualty vessel. With gusty conditions the vessel was unable to sail and had lost engine power. The lifeboat quickly set up a tow and towed the casualty vessel to Ballyronan Marina. All crew on board were safe and well. ALB stood down and returned to base.

HMGC paged LNR @ 17:33hrs and tasked Kinnego & Ardboe Lifeboats to search for an overdue yacht with 1 person on board after concerns from some sailing colleagues after they got parted in a race due to strong winds and heavy rain which left visibility limited. Both lifeboats went to search around the Antrim Bay area. After 30 mins the casualty was found by our station team after calling around a few possible quays. Luckily the skipper of the yacht while he sustained some damage to his yacht had manage to ground the boat safely in another quay on the east of the lough. All lifeboats where then stood down and returned to base.

HMGC paged LNR @ 19:45hrs to a Bayliner boat with its ignition broken with 2 persons on board about 1 mile from the six mile water. Upon arrival to station both lifeboats where stood down as the vessel got the ignition fixed on its on accord.

HMGC paged LNR @ 19:10hrs to a Fletcher speed boat broken down near Oxford Island. Upon arrival to station both lifeboats where stood down. Kinnego Marina Harbour Master Boat had towed the vessel into the marina.

HMGC paged LNR @ 17:58hrs. Kinnego & Arboe Lifeboats Launched to a 27ft cruiser which struck rocks of the notorious danger area of Skane Flat and was taking on water with 2 adults & 2 children on board. Both lifeboats were quickly on the scene. Ardboe lifeboat took the casualties of the vessel onto the lifeboat while Kinnego lifeboat managed to save the vessel and bring it back to Kinnego Marina where the casualties where handed into the care of the local coastguard team. Both Lifeboats then returned to base.

HMGC paged LNR @ 15:43hrs and tasked both Kinnego & Ardboe lifeboats to a speedboat with 2 adults and 3 children on board in the Kinnego area with no fuel and taking on water. While on-route Ardboe lifeboat was put on standby while Kinnego lifeboat reached the vessel and took it under tow back to Kinnego marina. The 5 casualties where handed over to the coast guard team safe and well. Both lifeboats where stood down and returned to base for 16:00hrs.

HMGC paged LNR @ 19:27hrs to a 8 metre RIB which had fowled its prop in fishing tackle and had lost it ability to maneuver properly in an area SW of Coney Island. Both Ardboe & Kinnego Lifeboats where launched to search for the vessel. The vessel was quickly spotted about 1 mile north of Coney Island. Ardboe Lifeboat was on scene and noticed the vessel had taken a lot of water over the transum into its hull and was heavily laden down. The lifeboat crew stabilized the vessel to the lifeboat while they cut the fishing tackle from the prop. One lifeboat crew member went onboard the RIB and helped drain the vessel of it water. Slowly the vessel began to stabilize. Ardboe lifeboat brought the casualty vessel and casualty’s back to Kinnego marinas and handed the casualty over to the coastguard team . Both Lifeboats back in base for 20:55hrs

HMGC paged LNR @ 23:40hrs on Sunday June 29th to reports of two small speed boats in difficulty between church point and Blackards rock. Both Kinnego & Ardboe lifeboats launched quickly. In poor visibility the lifeboats used their thermal imaging cameras to scan the area. Kinnego lifeboat searched along the east and south east shores. Further information was then received that the casualty vessels were in Maghery Canal. This information was checked out but no vessels had reached that area. Ardboe & Kinnego Lifeboats then widened the search and spotted 1 vessel with 3 casualties on board towing the other casualty vessel. The lifeboats on arrival to the casualty vessels assisted there passage to Maghery Canal and gave advice to all crew persons. Both vessels had sustained hull and prop damage. Both lifeboats where then stood down by coastguard and back in base at 01:45hrs.

HMGC paged LNR @ 19:00hrs to a drifting dinghy with 1 person onboard near Cranfield point. Ardboe lifeboat quickly launched and proceeded in that direction. Approximately 1.2nm south of Cranfield the Lifeboat came across the casualty which was drifting in the northerly wind. Ardboe lifeboat quickly rescued the casualty and brought him back to Cranfield marina to join his friends. The Cox of Ardboe Lifeboat said the quick call to the coastguard and calmness saved their friends life. Lifeboat back in base at 20:10 hrs.

HMGC paged LNR @16:40 to a 22 foot sail boat which had ran aground around the Tolans Flat area. Ardboe lifeboat got the vessel of the rocks and Kinnego Lifeboat then escorted it back to Kinnego Marina.

At 15:05 MRCC Belfast Coastguard paged Lough Neagh Rescue to a report of a speedboat which had broken down in the River Bann. Kinnego Lifeboat located the vessel and towed it to Irwin’s Quay where they were met by Lough Neagh Coastguard.

At 15:10 MRCC Belfast Coastguard Paged LNR to a report of a cabin cruiser which had got lost while en route from Ram’s Island to Kinnego Marina. Kinnego Lifeboat located the vessel and escorted it back to Kinnego. KLB back at base at 17.30.

MRCC Belfast Coastguard paged LNR @ 20:16 in ref to an incident at Antrim Marina. No Lifeboats launched as incident was dealt with on shore.

At 13.00 today Lough Neagh Rescue was paged by HMCG Belfast to a report of 3 canoeists in the water after they capsized near Rams Island. Ardboe and Kinnego Lifeboats launched immediately and on arrival at the scene found that the skipper of a nearby Sand Barge, the Fairhead, had deployed it’s liferaft and all the canoeists had managed to board the liferaft. Ardboe lifeboat transfered the canoeists from the liferaft onto the lifeboat and brought them to waiting Ambulances and the Lough Neagh Coastguard team at Crumlin Marina. The 3 canoeists were suffering from severe hypothermia and had to be stretchered from the lifeboat amd were taken by Ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast.

HMCG tasked LNR at 16:00hrs to a 24 foot yacht with 1 POB aground near the Maine River. Ardboe Lifeboat responded and towed boat into deeper water to refloat it before escorting it back to Antrim Boat Club.

HMCG tasked LNR at 12:30hrs to a Jet Ski adrift with one person on board outside Antrim Bay. Ardboe Lifeboat responded and towed the Jet Ski into Antrim Marina where the casualty was handed over to the Lough Neagh Coastguard Rescue Team for a checkup. The casualty was wearing shorts & t-shirt and was suffering from the effects of the cold. The casualty was transferred to an Ambulance to be checked over. The Jetski had a flat battery. Remember to ensure your vessel is sea worthy and you are dressed appropriately.
Lifeboat returned to base at 13:30 hrs

At 13:00hrs HMCG tasked Lough Neagh Rescue to a yacht that had run aground off Coney Island with 3 persons onboard. Both Ardboe & Kinnego Lifeboats responded, ABL located the casualty on the SE side of Coney flat, the yacht had hit the bottom and its keel was stuck, ALB was able to tow the yacht to deeper water and re-float it. Hull was intact, KLB escorted the casualty back to Kinnego Marina.

On Sunday night at 23:00 hrs HMCG paged LNR to reports of a possible missing vessel (White Shetland boat) around the area of Bannfoot. An extensive search of the Western, Southern and Eastern shores including Antrim Bay was carried out by Ardboe, Kinnego and Support 1 Lifeboats.
No vessel was found and the search was called off. Boats returned to base at 03:00 hrs.
Vessel was located this morning with all crew accounted for safe and well.

At 14:15 HMCG paged LNR to a report of a Flying 15 racing dinghy capsized, 2 persons in the water south of Tolans flat. Kinnego Lifeboat Launched. The 2 persons in the water were rescued by LNR crew on a nearby racing yacht and brought back to Kinnego Marina where they were transferred to the Lough Neagh Coastguard team. A 2nd flying 15 yacht which had also got into difficulty was taken on tow by the Kinnego Harbour Master RIB. Kinnego Lifeboat attempted to recover the capsized dinghy but was unable to do so due as the dinghy was completely inverted with the mast stuck in the bed of the lough and the weather conditions on scene had deteriorated significantly with a strong NW wind & waves from the wind swell. KLB was back in base at 16:30.

At 14:57 HMCG tasked Ardboe Lifeboat, Kinnego Lifeboat and Support 1 to a report of a yacht with 2 persons on board sinking near Six Foot Flat. On arrival the lifeboats found the yacht south of Tolands Flat. Ardboe lifeboat took the 2 casualties on board and brought them to Kinnego Marina while Kinnego Lifeboat and Support 1 slung the yacht between them and towed it into Kinnego Marina.

Lopugh Neagh Rescue was paged at 09.46 by MRCC Belfast to a report of 3 kayaks in difficulty just off Maghery. 1 kayak had got separated and washed up on lee shore. All kayaks managed to self recover to Maghery prior to the arrival of Kinnego & Ardboe Lifeboats. Casualties met by the Lough Neagh Coastguard team, none required any medical attention and safety advice was given. Both Lifeboats returned to base.

At 14:30 HMCG paged Lough Neagh rescue to a sppedboat which had run out of fuel just off Tolans Flat with 2 persons on board. Kinnego lifeboat was tasked and towed the boat back to Kinnego Marina where the boat was met by the Lough Neagh Coastguard team.

HMCG paged Lough Neagh Rescue at 20:13 to a RIB with engine trouble 1.5NM NW of Ardmore Point (South Shore) with 3 persons on board. Kinnego & Ardboe Lifeboats Launched and attended the vessel. Kinnego Lifeboat took the RIB under tow to Kinnego Marina where they were handed over to the Lough Neagh Coastguard team.

HMCG tasked Lough Neagh Rescue at 18:00 to a group of 16 canoeists in trouble near Blackers Rock on the Western Shore. All 3 lifeboats, Ardboe Lifeboat, Kinnego Lifeboat & Support 1 were quickly on scene and brought the casualties to Ardboe station where they were treated by the Ambulance Service.

Belfast Telegraph – Canoe drama parents hail Lough Neagh rescue heroes
MCA – Coastguard Press Release