Bangor RNLI conduct a search for jet skier
At 12.19pm today (Thursday 10 April), the volunteer crew of Bangor RNLI were paged by Belfast Coastguard following reports of a jet ski being spotted without anyone onboard.
The reported sighting was just off the Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey shoreline. An immediate search of the entire Belfast lough was carried out with assistance from Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 199, Lagan Search & Rescue and HM Coastguard Belfast.
Bangor lifeboat returned to Bangor station at 2.30pm for a crew change and then resumed the search until 4.30pm when they were stood down by Belfast Coastguard.
No jet ski or jet skier were found during the extensive four hour search and nobody was reported missing.
Speaking following the search, Tom Bell, Bangor RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer said: 'We would like to commend everyone involved in today's search and thank our colleagues in the Coastguard, those on our own lifeboat and our shore crew for their efforts today. We would always much rather launch, search and find all is well, rather than not launch at all.
'When going afloat we would encourage people to let someone on the shore know where you are going and when you are due back. If you see someone in trouble on the water or are in difficulties yourself, do not hesitate to call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
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RNLI Media Contact
For more information, contact Tom Bell, Bangor RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected]
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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 146,000 lives.
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