Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew assist two people onboard motorboat

The inshore lifeboat, Blue Peter V, launched to assess the situation with helm Paddy Lowry and volunteer crew members Chris Adair, Ollie Rogers and Molly Crowe onboard.

Conditions at the time were a light southerly breeze, a clear sky with good visibility and a smooth sea state.

When lifeboat crew arrived on scene, the casualty vessel was observed to be close to rocks and had dropped their anchor to stop them drifting further towards shore.

With no other boats in the vicinity to help, the lifeboat crew decided to establish a tow and return the vessel and crew to the safety of Ardglass Marina.

Speaking after the call out, Portaferry RNLI helm, Paddy Lowry said: 'The crew onboard the casualty vessel did the right thing by calling for help as soon as they got into difficulty, and by dropping anchor when they drifted close to shore.

'With good weather forecasted to continue over the next few days we expect the coast to attract more visitors than usual. We encourage everyone to enjoy spending time on and around the water but to always stay aware of the dangers and know what to in an emergency.

We urge boat owners to make sure their vessel is ready for the water and always check tides and weather before venturing out. Always wear a lifejacket or suitable personal flotation device for your activity and always carry a means of calling for help.

'If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, one piece of advice we’re urging people to remember is Float to Live. Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged, relax and try to breathe normally.

If you are in trouble or see someone else in difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.'

A total of nine volunteers responded to the pagers this morning, and on returning to Portaferry station the boat was washed, refuelled and made ready for her next call out.